Derivative and Other Fair Value Instruments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
2.375% Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt	$ 450,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.375%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jul. 01, 2019
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.61%
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	LIBOR plus 0.61%
Fair Value Hedges
Derivative [Line Items]
Current Notional Balance	$ 450,000
Lowest Possible Notional	450,000
Highest Possible Notional	$ 450,000
Lowest Interest Rate	2.375%
Highest Interest Rate	2.375%
Earliest Maturity Date	P2019Y0M0D
Latest Maturity Date	P2019Y0M0D
Forward Starting Swaps
Derivative [Line Items]
Current Notional Balance	$ 50,000
Lowest Possible Notional	50,000
Highest Possible Notional	$ 50,000
Lowest Interest Rate	2.50%
Highest Interest Rate	2.50%
Earliest Maturity Date	P2026Y0M0D
Latest Maturity Date	P2026Y0M0D

The earliest maturity date on derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedging instruments.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Highest possible notional amount of all derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedging instruments. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqr_HighestPossibleNotional
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The latest maturity date on derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedging instruments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqr_LatestMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Lowest possible notional amount of all derivatives designated as fair value or cash flow hedging instruments. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqr_LowestPossibleNotional
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

High end of the range of fixed interest rates when a range is presented for a group of interest rate derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeHigherFixedInterestRateRange
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Low end of the range of fixed interest rates when a range is presented for a group of interest rate derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLowerFixedInterestRateRange
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from the issuance of long-term debt that is not secured by collateral. Excludes proceeds from tax exempt unsecured debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_A2.375NotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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