Noncontrolling Interests Redeemable common units of Boston Properties Limited Partnership (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value		5,128	11,686
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	2,286,689	2,310,046	1,710,218
Contributions	31,395	39,030	23,990
Net income	59,260	66,951	50,862
Distributions	(49,087)	(69,447)	(126,948)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	(6,461)	(14,343)	(2,700)
Unearned compensation	(3,464)	(4,579)	(2,813)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss),	(4,379)	(554)	256
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(51,913)	(40,415)	657,181
Ending Balance	$ 2,262,040	$ 2,286,689	$ 2,310,046