Real Estate Schedule of Real Estate Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		$ 4,879,020	$ 4,806,021
Land held for future development	[1]	246,656	252,195
Buildings and improvements		11,890,626	11,709,285
Tenant improvements		2,060,315	1,920,247
Furniture, fixtures and equipment		32,687	29,852
Construction in progress		1,037,959	763,935
Total		20,147,263	19,481,535
Less: accumulated depreciation		(4,222,235)	(3,925,894)
Total real estate		15,925,028	15,555,641
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		4,774,460	4,700,793
Land held for future development	[1]	246,656	252,195
Buildings and improvements		11,581,795	11,394,119
Tenant improvements		2,060,315	1,920,247
Furniture, fixtures and equipment		32,687	29,852
Construction in progress		1,037,959	763,935
Total		19,733,872	19,061,141
Less: accumulated depreciation		(4,136,364)	(3,846,816)
Total real estate		$ 15,597,508	$ 15,214,325

[1] Includes pre-development costs.