Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 17, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Registrant Name	EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
Entity Central Index Key	0000906107
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		367,097,667
Entity Public Float			$ 24,800,000,000
ERPOP [Member]
Entity Registrant Name	ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	0000931182
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer