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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KnkbgX1TRD160W2rTzv5/vPSDNk4olVnziAxayoB+DSqHxe7F+q3pXc9qs6DYssX
 R5mIIgP7LGIL+CDZnbY6Tw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209133-03-000006.txt : 20030724
<SEC-HEADER>0001209133-03-000006.hdr.sgml : 20030724
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030724104604
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209133-03-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030724

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906107
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				363877868
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		STREET 2:		2 N RIVERSIDE PLAZA, STE 400
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3129281182

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO N RIVERSIDE PLAZA
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930524

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARPER JAMES D JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209133

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12252
		FILM NUMBER:		03799739

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		J.D.H. REALTY CO.,
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33143
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3124663639

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		J.D.H. REALTY CO.,
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33143
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001209133d20030724f4s1f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000906107</issuerCik><issuerName>EQUITY RESIDENTIAL</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001209133</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HARPER JAMES D JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTit
le><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>13</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17608</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCod
ing><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>26.504</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7608</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-23</value></transactionDate><transactionCodi
ng><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>26.504</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1996-08-11</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-08-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNat
ure></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F2">Share options reported on this line are fully exercisable.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>James D Harper, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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