Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue
Base rent	$ 370,494	$ 358,607	$ 1,098,870	$ 1,042,729
Recoveries from tenants	59,957	53,194	169,179	146,689
Parking and other	23,070	21,679	69,021	61,838
Total rental revenue	453,521	433,480	1,337,070	1,251,256
Hotel revenue	9,359	8,045	26,224	22,897
Development and management services	8,024	8,178	25,734	24,699
Total revenue	470,904	449,703	1,389,028	1,298,852
Expenses
Rental	168,939	153,776	487,238	436,300
Hotel	6,886	6,032	19,601	18,052
General and administrative	19,757	16,917	66,442	60,281
Transaction costs	1,140	474	3,252	1,907
Depreciation and amortization	111,360	108,674	331,943	327,526
Total expenses	308,082	285,873	908,476	844,066
Operating income	162,822	163,830	480,552	454,786
Other income (expense)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	9,217	11,326	42,129	28,184
Interest and other income	4,001	1,252	8,029	4,179
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	587	(860)	1,202	(481)
Losses from early extinguishments of debt	(5,494)		(4,453)
Interest expense	(105,030)	(95,117)	(308,168)	(288,225)
Income from continuing operations	66,103	80,431	219,291	198,443
Discontinued operations
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		20	884	(60)
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations			36,877
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations			17,807
Net income	66,103	80,451	274,859	198,383
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnership	(458)	(86)	(1,461)	(1,118)
Noncontrolling interest-redeemable preferred units of the Operating Partnership	(874)	(832)	(2,440)	(2,497)
Noncontrolling interest-common units of the Operating Partnership	(7,002)	(8,989)	(23,393)	(23,417)
Noncontrolling interest in discontinued operations-common units of the Operating Partnership		(2)	(6,092)	8
Net income attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.	$ 57,769	$ 70,542	$ 241,473	$ 171,359
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.48	$ 1.28	$ 1.18
Discontinued operations			$ 0.33
Net income	$ 0.38	$ 0.48	$ 1.61	$ 1.18
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	150,801	147,006	149,823	145,006
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.48	$ 1.27	$ 1.18
Discontinued operations			$ 0.33
Net income	$ 0.38	$ 0.48	$ 1.60	$ 1.18
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding	151,983	147,622	150,478	145,625