Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net							$ 1,599	$ 207,789
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	$ 10,870,805	$ 10,912,542	$ 10,990,198	$ 10,750,530	$ 10,733,999	$ 10,632,606	10,990,198	10,632,606
Net income attributable to common stockholders	147,703	170,828	167,971	279,677	168,281	170,366	486,502	618,324
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1,333	(1,461)	(17,603)	(13,644)	(2,888)	(7,231)	(17,731)	(23,763)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	2,367	2,301	1,949	1,746	1,611	1,468	6,617	4,825
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	62	(146)	471	(113)	(45)	(224)
Noncontrolling interest distribution and income allocation	(17)	1	(35)	118	530
Dividends, Common Stock	(222,694)	(224,172)	(224,083)	(212,526)	(212,549)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	105	1,188	(14,107)	(717)	50,806	141,319
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(137,458)
Amortization of deferred compensation	8,036	9,724	7,781	10,002	10,785	7,861
Ending Balance	$ 10,670,242	$ 10,870,805	$ 10,912,542	$ 10,815,073	$ 10,750,530	$ 10,733,999	10,670,242	10,815,073
Dividends declared to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.59	$ 1.59	$ 1.59	$ 1.52	$ 1.52	$ 1.52
Common stock
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	$ 1,407	$ 1,407	$ 1,406	$ 1,397	$ 1,394	$ 1,385	1,406	1,385
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings		0	1		3	9
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(9)
Ending Balance	1,398	1,407	1,407	1,397	1,397	1,394	1,398	1,397
Additional paid-in capital
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	10,742,796	10,732,022	10,736,733	10,519,239	10,457,651	10,306,588	10,736,733	10,306,588
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	105	1,050	(12,492)	(454)	50,803	143,202
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(69,779)
Amortization of deferred compensation	8,036	9,724	7,781	10,002	10,785	7,861
Ending Balance	10,681,158	10,742,796	10,732,022	10,528,787	10,519,239	10,457,651	10,681,158	10,528,787
Accumulated earnings less dividends
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	172,304	225,656	282,913	262,548	306,861	350,777	282,913	350,777
Net income attributable to common stockholders	147,703	170,828	167,971	279,677	168,281	170,366
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	62	(146)	471	(113)	(45)	(224)	387	(382)
Dividends, Common Stock	(222,694)	(224,172)	(224,083)	(212,526)	(212,549)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings		138	(1,616)	(263)	0	(1,892)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(67,670)
Ending Balance	29,705	172,304	225,656	329,323	262,548	306,861	29,705	329,323
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	(46,317)	(47,157)	(31,503)	(33,184)	(31,907)	(26,144)	(31,503)	(26,144)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1,333	(1,461)	(17,603)	(13,644)	(2,888)	(7,231)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	2,367	2,301	1,949	1,746	1,611	1,468
Ending Balance	(42,617)	(46,317)	(47,157)	(45,082)	(33,184)	(31,907)	(42,617)	(45,082)
Parent [Member]
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	10,870,190	10,911,928	10,989,549	10,750,000	10,733,999	10,632,606	10,989,549	10,632,606
Net income attributable to common stockholders	147,703	170,828	167,971	279,677	168,281	170,366
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1,333	(1,461)	(17,603)	(13,644)	(2,888)	(7,231)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	2,367	2,301	1,949	1,746	1,611	1,468
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	62	(146)	471	(113)	(45)	(224)
Dividends, Common Stock	(222,694)	(224,172)	(224,083)	(212,526)	(212,549)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	105	1,188	(14,107)	(717)	50,806	141,319
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(137,458)
Amortization of deferred compensation	8,036	9,724	7,781	10,002	10,785	7,861
Ending Balance	10,669,644	10,870,190	10,911,928	10,814,425	10,750,000	$ 10,733,999	10,669,644	10,814,425
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	615	614	649	530			649
Noncontrolling interest distribution and income allocation	(17)	1	(35)	118	530
Ending Balance	$ 598	$ 615	$ 614	$ 648	$ 530		598	$ 648
Continuous Equity Program CEP V [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net							$ 0