XML 64 R53.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Text (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Partially Owned Unconsolidated Properties 3eqr_PartiallyOwnedUnconsolidatedProperties    
Value of furniture and fixtures minimum range $ 3,000eqr_ValueOfFurnitureAndFixturesMinimumRange    
Value of furniture and fixtures maximum range 13,000eqr_ValueOfFurnitureAndFixturesMaximumRange    
Lease Intangibles, Average Term 6eqr_LeaseIntangiblesAverageTerm    
Capitalized Costs Development and Renovation 22,400,000eqr_CapitalizedCostsDevelopmentAndRenovation 16,500,000eqr_CapitalizedCostsDevelopmentAndRenovation 14,300,000eqr_CapitalizedCostsDevelopmentAndRenovation
Accumulated Amortization, Deferred Finance Costs 37,700,000us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationDeferredFinanceCosts 33,400,000us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationDeferredFinanceCosts  
Partially Owned Consolidated Properties 19eqr_PartiallyOwnedConsolidatedProperties    
Partially Owned Consolidated Units 3,771eqr_PartiallyOwnedConsolidatedUnits    
Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties 124,909,000eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsPartiallyOwnedProperties 126,583,000eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsPartiallyOwnedProperties  
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 5    
Furniture and Fixtures Maximum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 10    
Building [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 30    
Building Improvements [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 8    
Replacements Minimum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 5    
Replacements Maximum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 10    
Renovations and Improvements Minimum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 5    
Renovations and Improvements Maximum [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives 15    
Minimum [Member]      
Retail/Commercial Leases Term 5eqr_RetailCommercialLeasesTerm
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Maximum [Member]      
Retail/Commercial Leases Term 10eqr_RetailCommercialLeasesTerm
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Limited Life Partnership Properties [Member]      
Partially Owned Limited Life Partnership Properties 6eqr_PartiallyOwnedLimitedLifePartnershipProperties
/ eqr_PartiallyOwnedAxis
= eqr_LimitedLifePartnershipPropertiesMember
   
Noncontrolling Interest Balance Limited Life Partnerships (10,900,000)eqr_NoncontrollingInterestBalanceLimitedLifePartnerships
/ eqr_PartiallyOwnedAxis
= eqr_LimitedLifePartnershipPropertiesMember
   
Noncontrolling Interests Settlement Value $ 62,900,000eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsSettlementValue
/ eqr_PartiallyOwnedAxis
= eqr_LimitedLifePartnershipPropertiesMember
   
Unconsolidated Operating [Domain]      
Partially Owned Unconsolidated Properties 3eqr_PartiallyOwnedUnconsolidatedProperties
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= eqr_UnconsolidatedOperatingDomain