Noncontrolling Interests Redeemable common 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]
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	5,128	11,686	8,475
Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	2,310,046	1,710,218	1,836,522
Contributions	39,030	23,990	26,398
Net income	66,951	50,862	84,236
Distributions	(69,447)	(126,948)	(83,448)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	(14,343)	(2,700)	(30,291)
Unearned compensation	(4,579)	(2,813)	1,472
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(554)	256	252
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(40,415)	657,181	(124,923)
Ending Balance	$ 2,286,689	$ 2,310,046	$ 1,710,218