Real Estate (Summary Of The Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 624,240	$ 629,884	$ 618,221	$ 618,476	$ 613,707	$ 618,803	$ 589,794	$ 574,694	$ 2,490,821	$ 2,396,998	$ 2,135,539
Expenses
Depreciation and amortization									639,542	628,573	560,637
Total expenses									1,641,456	1,595,176	1,457,419
Operating income									849,365	801,822	678,120
Other Expenses
Interest expense									432,196	455,743	446,880
Noncontrolling interest in income (loss) from discontinued operations - common units of the Operating Partnership									0	0	(14,151)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.											123,641
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations									0	0	112,829
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations									0	0	20,182
Impairment loss from discontinued operations									0	0	(3,241)
Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 624,240	$ 629,884	$ 618,221	$ 618,476	$ 613,707	$ 618,803	$ 589,794	$ 574,694	2,490,821	2,396,998	2,135,539
Expenses
Depreciation and amortization									631,549	620,064	552,589
Total expenses									1,633,463	1,586,667	1,445,466
Operating income									857,358	810,331	690,073
Other Expenses
Interest expense									432,196	455,743	446,880
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.											141,365
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations									0	0	115,459
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations									0	0	20,736
Impairment loss from discontinued operations									$ 0	$ 0	(2,852)
Montvale Center, 303 Almaden Blvd, 1301 New York Avenue, One Preserve Parkway and 10 & 20 Burlington Mall Road [Member] | Boston Properties, Inc. [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue											20,138
Expenses
Operating											6,996
Depreciation and amortization											4,760
Total expenses											11,756
Operating income											8,382
Other Expenses
Interest expense											360
Income from discontinued operations											8,022
Noncontrolling interest in income (loss) from discontinued operations - common units of the Operating Partnership											(803)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.											7,219
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations											112,829
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations											20,182
Impairment loss from discontinued operations											(3,241)
Noncontrolling interest in gain on sale of real estate, gain on forgiveness of debt and impairment loss from discontinued operations - common units of the Operating Partnership											(13,348)
Gain on sale of real estate, gain on forgiveness of debt and impairment loss from discontinued operations attributable to Boston Properties, Inc											116,422
Montvale Center, 303 Almaden Blvd, 1301 New York Avenue, One Preserve Parkway and 10 & 20 Burlington Mall Road [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total revenue											20,138
Expenses
Operating											6,996
Depreciation and amortization											4,760
Total expenses											11,756
Operating income											8,382
Other Expenses
Interest expense											360
Income from discontinued operations											8,022
Gain on sale of real estate from discontinued operations											115,459
Gain on forgiveness of debt from discontinued operations											20,736
Impairment loss from discontinued operations											$ (2,852)