Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 741,522	$ 405,825	$ 408,315
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	64,228,356	64,252,232	65,079,764
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 11.55	$ 6.32	$ 6.27
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 741,522	$ 405,825	$ 408,315
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year (in shares)	64,251,234	64,253,385	65,098,186
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 11.54	$ 6.32	$ 6.27
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 767,936	$ 420,109	$ 422,612
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	66,511,030	66,513,303	67,356,105
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 11.55	$ 6.32	$ 6.27
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 767,936	$ 420,109	$ 422,612
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year (in shares)	66,533,908	66,514,456	67,374,527
Per common share/unit amount (in dollars per share)	$ 11.54	$ 6.32	$ 6.27
Stock options
Basic:
Income effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	22,878	1,153	18,422
Diluted:
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	265,378	508,276	253,845
Stock options | Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Income effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	22,878	1,153	18,422
Diluted:
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	265,378	508,276	253,845
Convertible Limited Partnership Units
Diluted:
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	2,282,675	2,261,071	2,276,341
Income allocated to convertible OP Units	$ 26,400	$ 14,300	$ 14,300