Noncontrolling Interests Redeemable preferred units of Boston Properties Limited Partnership (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		$ 633
Net income		6	$ 1,023	$ 6,046
Redemption of redeemable preferred units (Series Four Preferred Units)		(633)	(17,373)	(43,070)
Reallocation of partnership interest (1)		0	0	0
Ending Balance		0	633
Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income		6	1,023	6,046
Redemption of redeemable preferred units (Series Four Preferred Units)		(633)	(17,373)	(43,070)
Reallocation of partnership interest (1)		(14,343)	$ (2,700)	$ (30,291)
Series Two Preferred Units [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Units converted (in shares)			666,116	329,881
OP Units [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Units converted (in shares)			874,168	432,914
Redeemable Preferred Units [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance		633	$ 105,746	$ 199,378
Net income		6	1,023	6,046
Distributions		(6)	(1,023)	(6,046)
Redemption of redeemable preferred units (Series Four Preferred Units)		(633)	(17,373)	(43,070)
Reallocation of partnership interest (1)	[1]		(87,740)	(50,562)
Ending Balance		$ 0	$ 633	$ 105,746

[1] Includes the conversion of 666,116 and 329,881 Series Two Preferred Units into 874,168 and 432,914 OP Units during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.