Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net					$ 1,613	$ 206,193
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	$ 10,912,542	$ 10,990,198	$ 10,733,999	$ 10,632,606	10,990,198	10,632,606
Net income attributable to common stockholders	170,828	167,971	168,281	170,366	338,799	338,647
Loss on cash flow hedges	(1,461)	(17,603)	(2,888)	(7,231)	(19,064)	(10,119)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	2,301	1,949	1,611	1,468	4,250	3,079
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(146)	471	(45)	(224)
Noncontrolling interests income allocation	1	(35)	530
Dividends declared to common stockholders ($1.59 per share)	(224,172)	(224,083)	(212,549)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	1,188	(14,107)	50,806	141,319
Amortization of deferred compensation	9,724	7,781	10,785	7,861
Ending Balance	$ 10,870,805	$ 10,912,542	$ 10,750,530	$ 10,733,999	10,870,805	10,750,530
Dividends declared to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.59	$ 1.59	$ 1.52	$ 1.52
Common stock
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	$ 1,407	$ 1,406	$ 1,394	$ 1,385	1,406	1,385
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	0	1	3	9
Ending Balance	1,407	1,407	1,397	1,394	1,407	1,397
Additional paid-in capital
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	10,732,022	10,736,733	10,457,651	10,306,588	10,736,733	10,306,588
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	1,050	(12,492)	50,803	143,202
Amortization of deferred compensation	9,724	7,781	10,785	7,861
Ending Balance	10,742,796	10,732,022	10,519,239	10,457,651	10,742,796	10,519,239
Accumulated earnings less dividends
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	225,656	282,913	306,861	350,777	282,913	350,777
Net income attributable to common stockholders	170,828	167,971	168,281	170,366
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(146)	471	(45)	(224)	325	(269)
Dividends declared to common stockholders ($1.59 per share)	(224,172)	(224,083)	(212,549)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	138	(1,616)	0	(1,892)
Ending Balance	172,304	225,656	262,548	306,861	172,304	262,548
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	(47,157)	(31,503)	(31,907)	(26,144)	(31,503)	(26,144)
Loss on cash flow hedges	(1,461)	(17,603)	(2,888)	(7,231)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	2,301	1,949	1,611	1,468
Ending Balance	(46,317)	(47,157)	(33,184)	(31,907)	(46,317)	(33,184)
Parent [Member]
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	10,911,928	10,989,549	10,733,999	10,632,606	10,989,549	10,632,606
Net income attributable to common stockholders	170,828	167,971	168,281	170,366
Loss on cash flow hedges	(1,461)	(17,603)	(2,888)	(7,231)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	2,301	1,949	1,611	1,468
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(146)	471	(45)	(224)
Dividends declared to common stockholders ($1.59 per share)	(224,172)	(224,083)	(212,549)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	1,188	(14,107)	50,806	141,319
Amortization of deferred compensation	9,724	7,781	10,785	7,861
Ending Balance	10,870,190	10,911,928	10,750,000	$ 10,733,999	10,870,190	10,750,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	614	649			649
Noncontrolling interests income allocation	1	(35)	530
Ending Balance	$ 615	$ 614	$ 530		615	$ 530
Continuous Equity Program CEP V [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net					$ 0