Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital Narrative (Details)		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 03, 2014 USD ($) yr	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 27, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding		153,674,930		153,579,966
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		1,717,722
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		151,957,208
Shares of Common Stock in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units (in shares)		78,629
Common Stock, Value, Issued | $		$ 1,537,000		$ 1,536,000
Atm Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At the market stock offering program, aggregate value of common stock | $	$ 600,000,000
At Market Stock Offering Program Maximum Length Of Sale In Years | yr	3
Common Stock, Value, Issued | $		$ 0
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		80,000		80,000
Series B, Dividend Rate, Percentage		5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 2,500.00		$ 2,500
Ratio of depository shares to shares of Series B Preferred Stock		0.01
Depository shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		8,000,000
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 25.00
Subsequent Event [Member] | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 2,500.00
Subsequent Event [Member] | Depository shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 25.00
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Class of Stock [Line Items]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		1,717,722		1,715,092
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		151,957,208		151,864,874
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		80,000		80,000
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 2,500.00		$ 2,500.00