Real Estate Activity During the Three Months Ended march 31, 2014 (Summary Of The Discontinued Operations Related To Montvale Center, 303 Almaden Blvd, 1301 New York Avenue, One Preserve Parkway and 10 & 20 Burlington Mall Road) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 574,694	$ 477,826
Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	154,270	119,453
Total expenses	397,797	349,824
Operating income	176,897	128,002
Other expense
Interest expense	113,554	100,433
Income from discontinued operations	0	2,494
Noncontrolling interest in income (loss) from discontinued operations - common units of the Operating Partnership	0	(2,066)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.		17,369
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations	0	20,182
Impairment loss from discontinued operations	0	(3,241)
Montvale Center, 303 Almaden Blvd, 1301 New York Avenue, One Preserve Parkway and 10 & 20 Burlington Mall Road [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue		7,035
Expenses
Operating		2,443
Depreciation and amortization		1,738
Total expenses		4,181
Operating income		2,854
Other expense
Interest expense		360
Income from discontinued operations		2,494
Noncontrolling interest in income (loss) from discontinued operations - common units of the Operating Partnership		(253)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.		2,241
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations		20,182
Impairment loss from discontinued operations		(3,241)
Noncontrolling interest in gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations - common units of the Operating Partnership		1,813
Gain On Forgiveness of Debt and Impairment Losses from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Company		$ 15,128