Noncontrolling Interests (Redeemable Preferred Units) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Net Loss			$ (7)	$ (603)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Net income		$ 0	6	1,023
Redemption of redeemable preferred units (Series Four Preferred Units)		0	(633)	(17,373)
Conversion of redeemable preferred units (Series Two Preferred Units) to common units				33,306
Conversion of redeemable partnership units		0	0	$ 0
Series Two Preferred Units [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Units converted (in shares)				666,116
Redeemable Preferred Units [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0	633	$ 51,312
Net income			6	1,023
Distributions			(6)	(1,023)
Redemption of redeemable preferred units (Series Four Preferred Units)			(633)	(17,373)
Conversion of redeemable preferred units (Series Two Preferred Units) to common units				(33,306)
Ending Balance			0	$ 633
OP Units [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Units converted (in shares)				874,168
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Net income		0	6	$ 1,023
Redemption of redeemable preferred units (Series Four Preferred Units)		0	(633)	(17,373)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units		(6,461)	(14,343)	(2,700)
Redeemable Preferred Units [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		$ 0	633	105,746
Net income			6	1,023
Distributions			(6)	(1,023)
Redemption of redeemable preferred units (Series Four Preferred Units)			(633)	(17,373)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	[1]			(87,740)
Ending Balance			$ 0	$ 633

[1] Includes the conversion of 666,116 Series Two Preferred Units into 874,168 OP Units during the year ended December 31, 2014