(Common Units) (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Feb. 04, 2016 USD ($) shares	Feb. 06, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) yr $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	May 02, 2016 shares
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Conversion of LTIP Units to OP Units (in units)						625,043
2012 OPP and 2013 MYLTIP [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Conversion of LTIP Units to OP Units (in units)						32,349
OP Units [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
OP Units for redemption (in shares)			190,857	424,236
Redemption of OP units issued on conversion of LTIP Units (in shares)			103,847	65,192
MYLTIP Units distribution as percentage of OP Unit distribution prior to measurement date			10.00%
Restriction on redemption of OP Unit to Common Stock (in years) | yr			1
Redemption of OP Unit equivalence to Common Stock (in shares)			1
Common units of operating partnership if converted value | $			$ 2,300.0
Closing price of common stock (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 125.78
OPP Units 2011 [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Accelerated Compensation Expenses Related To 2011 OPP Units | $					$ 1.2
MYLTIP 2013
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Final awards percentage of target	109.50%
Value of MYLTIP Awards | $	$ 13.5
MYLTIP Units forfeited	205,762
OPP Units 2012 [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Outperformance awards earned | $		$ 32.1
Potential maximum amount of Outperformance Awards earned (percent)		80.00%
Potential Awards Earned | $		$ 40.0
2012 OPP Units forfeited		174,549
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
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