-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JxoJCGWjAVoCclub2Y/tpx0FCFxUOTf91doCCICAfDQzRGjNhf6qcYWDvwOAm1p3
 UJFXybv7W9cxZPxxGq7uyQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246991-04-000119.txt : 20040802
<SEC-HEADER>0001246991-04-000119.hdr.sgml : 20040802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040802121754
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246991-04-000119
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040730
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040802

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOSTON PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037540
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				042473675
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172363300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TWARDOCK DAVID A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229891

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13087
		FILM NUMBER:		04944298

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KELLI A DILUGLIO
		STREET 2:		BOSTPN PROPERTIES
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172363300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O KELLI A DILUGLIO
		STREET 2:		BOSTPN PROPERTIES
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001037540</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOSTON PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229891</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TWARDOCK DAVID A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE CAPITAL COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 MULBERRY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01702</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20.45</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20.45</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1684.59</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired as quarterly dividends on July 30, 2004.  The rights were granted as a component of the Phantom Stock Units that were awarded under the Boston Properties, Inc. 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan to non-employee directors who elected to receive Phantom Stock Units in lieu of director compensation fees.  The rights are to be settled in shares of Common Stock upon Mr. Twardock's retirement from the Boston Properties Board of Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arthur S. Flashman, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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