Name:	eqr_AdditionalCommonSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of shares available for issuance under the company's dividend reinvestment plan at the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_NumberOfSharesAvailableForIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Per share or per unit amount of equity securities issued.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The number of shares that would be issued, determined under the conditions specified in the contract, if the settlement were to occur at the reporting date.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 480
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109262807&loc=d3e22047-110879

Name:	us-gaap_SharesSubjectToMandatoryRedemptionSettlementTermsNumberOfShares
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
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Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
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