Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital Partners' Capital Changes in Issued and Outstanding Partners' Capital Units (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	424,236	80,246
Limited Partners' Ending Balance	151,864,874
General Partners' Ending Balance	1,715,092
Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
General Partners' Beginning Balance	1,710,644
Limited Partners Beginning Balance	151,403,301
Partners' Capital Beginning Balance	153,113,945	152,983,101	151,601,209
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	6,199	6,964	6,442
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net	35,586	43,634	26,893
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	424,236	80,246	929,441
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the “at the market” (ATM) stock offering programs			419,116
Limited Partners' Ending Balance	151,864,874	151,403,301
Partners' Capital Ending Balance	153,579,966	153,113,945	152,983,101
General Partners' Ending Balance	1,715,092	1,710,644
Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member] | General Partner [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
General Partners' Beginning Balance	1,710,644	1,700,222	1,689,580
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	59	555	50
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net	340	3,476	207
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	4,049	6,391	7,158
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the “at the market” (ATM) stock offering programs			3,227
General Partners' Ending Balance	1,715,092	1,710,644	1,700,222
Boston Properties Limited Partnership [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited Partners Beginning Balance	151,403,301	151,282,879	149,911,629
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	6,140	6,409	6,392
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net	35,246	40,158	26,686
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	420,187	73,855	922,283
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the “at the market” (ATM) stock offering programs			415,889
Limited Partners' Ending Balance	151,864,874	151,403,301	151,282,879