Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Basic Earnings:
Income from continuing operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc., Income (Numerator)	$ 451,632	$ 85,539	$ 484,118	$ 133,465
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Inc., Shares (Denominator)	151,938	150,312	151,793	149,328
Inceom (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations and allocation of undistributed earnings (dollars per share)	$ 2.97		$ 3.19
Income from continuing operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc., Per Share Amount (in dollars per share)	$ 2.94	$ 0.57	$ 3.17	$ 0.89
Discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc., Income (Numerator)	785	33,020	15,975	33,506
Discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc., Per Share Amount (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.22	$ 0.10	$ 0.23
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (numberator)	(3,629)		(3,179)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per shares)	$ (0.03)		$ (0.02)
Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders After Discontinued Operations and Allocation of undistributed Earnings,Basic	448,788		496,914
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	452,417	118,559	500,093	166,971
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 2.95	$ 0.79	$ 3.27	$ 1.12
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation and Exchangeable Senior Notes, Income (Numerator)	0	0	0	0
Stock Based Compensation and Exchangeable Senior Notes, Shares (Denominator)	552	382	429	392
Stock Based Compensation and Exchangeable Senior Notes, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Income (Numerator)	$ 448,788	$ 118,559	$ 496,914	$ 166,971
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Shares (Denominator)	152,490	150,694	152,222	149,720
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share)	$ 2.94	$ 0.78	$ 3.26	$ 1.12