Borrowing Arrangements - Narratives (Details)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($) property loan commmunity	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) property
Debt Instrument
Weighted average interest rate (in percentage)	3.70%
Number of pledged properties \| property	114	117
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	$ 5,045,563,000	$ 4,885,290,000
Unsecured line of credit	47,800,000	349,000,000
Senior Unsecured Term Loan \| Line of Credit
Debt Instrument
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	200,000,000
Asset Pledged as Collateral
Debt Instrument
Real Estate Investment Property, Net	$ 2,834,000,000	2,817,500,000
Minimum \| Senior Unsecured Term Loan \| Line of Credit \| SOFR
Debt Instrument
Debt instrument, variable rate (percent)	1.30%
Maximum \| Senior Unsecured Term Loan \| Line of Credit \| SOFR
Debt Instrument
Debt instrument, variable rate (percent)	1.80%
Secured Debt \| Secured Refinancing Loan
Debt Instrument
Stated interest rate (in percentage)	3.36%
Proceeds from loans	$ 200,000,000
Secured Debt \| Secured Refinancing Loan \| M H Resorts
Debt Instrument
Number of pledged properties \| commmunity	1
Secured Debt \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Stated interest rate (in percentage)	2.40%
Secured Debt \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Stated interest rate (in percentage)	8.90%
Mortgage \| Prepaid Loans
Debt Instrument
Weighted average interest rate (in percentage)	5.25%
Repayments of debt	$ 14,200,000
Number of loans \| loan	2
Payments of debt extinguishment costs	$ 500,000
Mortgage \| Prepaid Loans \| R V Resort
Debt Instrument
Number of pledged properties \| commmunity	3
Line of Credit \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Unsecured line of credit	$ 47,800,000	$ 349,000,000
Line of credit, remaining borrowing amount	$ 452,200,000

Debt Instrument, Number Of Loans

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	els_
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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The number of encumbered properties during the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	els_
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow for cost from early extinguishment and prepayment of debt. Includes, but is not limited to, third-party cost, premium paid, and other fee paid to lender directly for debt extinguishment or debt prepayment. Excludes accrued interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
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-Section 45
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- Definition

Cash received from principal payments made on loans related to operating activities.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of real estate investment property, net of accumulated depreciation, which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; and (7) other real estate investments.

+ References

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
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- Details

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