Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) yr $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 shares	Mar. 27, 2018 $ / shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,717,743
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,072,432
Common stock, shares outstanding	153,790,175	153,579,966
Shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock by certain employees	0	11,447	(21,459)
Shares of its Common Stock in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units	190,857	424,236
ATM Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At the market stock offering program, aggregate value of common stock | $	$ 600,000,000
At Market Stock Offering Program Maximum Length Of Program In Years | yr	3
ATM program amount issued | $	$ 0
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	80,000	80,000
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage	5.25%
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares	$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500		$ 2,500.00
Depositary shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	8,000,000
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares	$ 25.00			$ 25.00
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Class of Stock [Line Items]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,717,743	1,715,092
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,072,432	151,864,874
Shares of its Common Stock in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units	190,857	424,236	80,246
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	80,000	80,000
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares	$ 2,500	$ 2,500