Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Common Unit - Schedule of Net Income Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 118,424	$ 87,282	$ 484,069	$ 340,434
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	64,227,662	64,184,180	64,214,258	64,274,085
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.84	$ 1.36	$ 7.54	$ 5.30
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 118,424	$ 87,282	$ 484,069	$ 340,434
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders (in shares)	64,271,459	64,186,020	64,234,358	64,275,279
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.84	$ 1.36	$ 7.54	$ 5.30
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 122,630	$ 90,354	$ 501,144	$ 352,416
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	66,508,041	66,443,416	66,480,312	66,535,917
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.84	$ 1.36	$ 7.54	$ 5.30
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 122,630	$ 90,354	$ 501,144	$ 352,416
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders (in shares)	66,551,838	66,445,256	66,500,412	66,537,111
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.84	$ 1.36	$ 7.54	$ 5.30
Stock options
Basic:
Income effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	43,797	1,840	20,100	1,194
Stock options | Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Income effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	43,797	1,840	20,100	1,115