Noncontrolling Interests (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2016 shares
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Operating Partnership (OP) Units (in shares)	17,079,511
Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) Units (in shares)	904,588
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | OPP Units 2012 [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Outperformance awards in LTIP Units (in shares)	166,629
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | MYLTIP 2013
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2013 MYLTIP	93,928
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | MYLTIP 2014
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2014 MYLTIPs	474,415
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | MYLTIP 2015 [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2015 MYLTIPS	367,218
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | MYLTIP 2016 [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2016 MYLTIP	473,360