Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 76,753	$ 184,082	$ 355,114	$ 434,702
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	153,754,000	153,595,000	153,681,000	153,426,000
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.50	$ 1.20	$ 2.31	$ 2.83
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (numerator)		$ (221)	$ (189)	$ (361)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)		0	0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per shares / units)		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders		$ 183,861	$ 354,925	$ 434,341
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)		153,595,000	153,681,000	153,426,000
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)		$ 1.20	$ 2.31	$ 2.83
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation, Income (Numerator)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)	382,000	191,000	290,000	399,000
Stock Based Compensation, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (Numerator)	$ 76,753	$ 183,861	$ 354,925	$ 434,341
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units) (Denominator)	154,136,000	153,786,000	153,971,000	153,825,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.50	$ 1.20	$ 2.31	$ 2.82
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Entity Information [Line Items]
Redeemable Common Units	17,625,000	17,565,000	17,672,000	17,705,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 91,306	$ 207,626	$ 408,540	$ 491,847
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	171,379,000	171,160,000	171,353,000	171,131,000
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.53	$ 1.21	$ 2.38	$ 2.87
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (numerator)		$ (246)	$ (210)	$ (402)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)		0	0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per shares / units)		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.00
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders		$ 207,380	$ 408,330	$ 491,445
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)		171,160,000	171,353,000	171,131,000
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)		$ 1.21	$ 2.38	$ 2.87
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation, Income (Numerator)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)	382,000	191,000	290,000	399,000
Stock Based Compensation, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (Numerator)	$ 91,306	$ 207,380	$ 408,330	$ 491,445
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units) (Denominator)	171,761,000	171,351,000	171,643,000	171,530,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.53	$ 1.21	$ 2.38	$ 2.87