Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholders (Numerator)									$ 502,285	$ 572,606	$ 433,111
Net income attributable to the Company in Shares / Units (Denominator)									153,715,000	153,471,000	153,089,000
Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)									$ 3.27	$ 3.73	$ 2.83
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (Numerator)									$ (283)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares) (Denominator)									0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per share / unit)									$ 0
Net income attributable to the Company Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.96	$ 0.50	$ 0.63	$ 1.18	$ 0.90	$ 1.20	$ 0.52	$ 1.12	$ 3.27	$ 3.73	$ 2.83
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic									$ 502,002
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)									153,715,000
Earnings Per Share After Allccation of Undistributed Earnings to Particiapting Securities Basic (dollars per share)									$ 3.27
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation (Numerator)									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)									262,000	373,000	219,000
Stock Based Compensation Per Share / Unit Amount									$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.00
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholdersIncome (Numerator)									$ 502,002	$ 572,606	$ 433,111
Diluted Earnings Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholders Shares / Units (Denominator)									153,977,000	153,844,000	153,308,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	0.96	0.50	0.63	1.18	0.90	1.20	0.52	1.11	$ 3.26	$ 3.72	$ 2.83
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Redeemable Common Units									17,646,000	17,668,000	17,364,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholders (Numerator)									$ 575,341	$ 648,748	$ 499,129
Net income attributable to the Company in Shares / Units (Denominator)									171,361,000	171,139,000	170,453,000
Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)									$ 3.36	$ 3.79	$ 2.93
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (Numerator)									$ (316)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares) (Denominator)									0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per share / unit)									$ 0
Net income attributable to the Company Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	0.97	0.53	0.64	1.21	0.92	1.21	0.53	1.13	$ 3.36	$ 3.79	$ 2.93
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic									$ 575,025
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)									171,361,000
Earnings Per Share After Allccation of Undistributed Earnings to Particiapting Securities Basic (dollars per share)									$ 3.36
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation (Numerator)									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)									262,000	373,000	219,000
Stock Based Compensation Per Share / Unit Amount									$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholdersIncome (Numerator)									$ 575,025	$ 648,748	$ 499,129
Diluted Earnings Net income attributable to the Company's shareholders/unitholders Shares / Units (Denominator)									171,623,000	171,512,000	170,672,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.97	$ 0.53	$ 0.64	$ 1.21	$ 0.92	$ 1.21	$ 0.53	$ 1.12	$ 3.35	$ 3.78	$ 2.92