Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue
Base rent	$ 1,483,533	$ 1,401,594	$ 1,226,454
Recoveries from tenants	229,107	198,703	178,377
Parking and other	91,635	83,069	64,464
Total rental revenue	1,804,275	1,683,366	1,469,295
Hotel revenue	37,915	34,529	32,800
Development and management services	34,077	33,425	41,215
Total revenue	1,876,267	1,751,320	1,543,310
Expenses
Rental	657,363	590,224	498,154
Hotel	28,120	26,128	25,153
General and administrative	82,382	79,610	79,396
Transaction costs	3,653	1,987	2,876
Suspension of development	0	0	(7,200)
Depreciation and amortization	453,068	436,612	335,859
Total expenses	1,224,586	1,134,561	934,238
Operating income	651,681	616,759	609,072
Other income (expense)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	49,078	85,896	36,774
Interest and other income	10,091	5,358	7,332
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	1,389	(443)	935
Interest expense	(413,564)	(394,131)	(378,079)
Losses from early extinguishments of debt	(4,453)	(1,494)	(89,883)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	294,222	311,945	186,151
Gains on sales of real estate	0	0	2,734
Income before discontinued operations	294,222	311,945	188,885
Discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations	1,040	1,881	1,442
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations	36,877	0	0
Net income	332,139	313,826	190,327
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(3,792)	(1,558)	(3,464)
Noncontrolling interest - redeemable preferred units of the Operating Partnership	(3,497)	(3,339)	(3,343)
Noncontrolling interest - common units of the Operating Partnership	(31,046)	(36,035)	(23,915)
Noncontrolling interest In gains on sales Of real estate common units of the operating partnership	0	0	(349)
Noncontrolling interest in discontinued operations - common units of the Operating Partnership	(4,154)	(215)	(184)
Net income attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.	$ 289,650	$ 272,679	$ 159,072
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.71	$ 1.86	$ 1.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.93	$ 1.87	$ 1.14
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	150,120	145,693	139,440
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70	$ 1.85	$ 1.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.92	$ 1.86	$ 1.14
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding (in shares)	150,711	146,218	140,057