Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation Activity of Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (BPLP) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of Carrying Amount of Real Estate Investments [Roll Forward]
Real Estate, Balance at the beginning of the year	$ 19,208,417	$ 18,953,601	$ 14,869,887
Real Estate, Additions to / improvements of real estate	700,792	594,296	4,410,622
Real Estate, Assets sold / written off	(457,526)	(339,480)	(326,908)
Real Estate, Balance at the end of the year	19,451,683	19,208,417	18,953,601
Reconciliation of Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation [Roll Forward]
Accumulated depreciation, Balance at beginning of the year	3,529,978	3,145,701	2,919,479
Accumulated depreciation, Depreciation expense	486,450	456,176	419,908
Accumulated depreciation, Assets sold / written off	(110,488)	(71,899)	(193,686)
Accumulated depreciation, Balance at end of the year	3,905,940	3,529,978	3,145,701
Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Reconciliation of Carrying Amount of Real Estate Investments [Roll Forward]
Real Estate, Balance at the beginning of the year	18,786,572	18,523,277	14,431,521
Real Estate, Additions to / improvements of real estate	700,792	594,296	4,410,622
Real Estate, Assets sold / written off	(456,075)	(331,001)	(318,866)
Real Estate, Balance at the end of the year	19,031,289	18,786,572	18,523,277
Reconciliation of Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation [Roll Forward]
Accumulated depreciation, Balance at beginning of the year	3,458,640	3,081,040	2,862,302
Accumulated depreciation, Depreciation expense	478,457	447,667	411,860
Accumulated depreciation, Assets sold / written off	(110,235)	(70,067)	(193,122)
Accumulated depreciation, Balance at end of the year	$ 3,826,862	$ 3,458,640	$ 3,081,040