Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,908,551 and $6,760,078 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	$ 20,392,260	$ 20,147,263
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(774,077) and $(758,640) at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	(4,302,283)	(4,222,235)
Total real estate	16,089,977	15,925,028
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $271,494 and $253,999 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	302,939	356,914
Cash held in escrows (amounts related to VIEs of $4,901 and $4,955 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	51,244	63,174
Investments in securities	25,817	23,814
Tenant and other receivables (amounts related to VIEs of $16,652 and $23,525 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	73,012	92,548
Accrued rental income (amounts related to VIEs of $227,638 and $224,185 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	812,124	799,138
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $277,519 and $290,436 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	666,677	686,163
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $68,910 and $42,718 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	150,905	129,666
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	793,932	775,198
Total assets	18,966,627	18,851,643
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,004,163 and $2,018,483 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	2,046,959	2,063,087
Unsecured senior notes, net	7,248,152	7,245,953
Unsecured line of credit	105,000	0
Mezzanine notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $306,734 and $307,093 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	306,734	307,093
Outside members’ notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $180,000 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016)	180,000	180,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $133,749 and $110,457 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	313,723	298,524
Dividends and distributions payable	130,418	130,308
Accrued interest payable (amounts related to VIEs of $171,395 and $162,226 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	266,714	243,933
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $181,535 and $175,146 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	446,489	450,821
Total liabilities	11,044,189	10,919,719
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Equity / Capital:
Excess stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0	0
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized
5.25% Series B cumulative redeemable preferred stock/unit, liquidation preference $2,500 per share/unit, 92,000 shares authorized, 80,000 shares/units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	200,000	200,000
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 153,928,131 and 153,869,075 issued and 153,849,231 and 153,790,175 outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	1,538	1,538
Additional paid-in capital	6,339,970	6,333,424
Dividends in excess of earnings	(712,270)	(693,694)
Treasury common stock at cost, 78,900 shares at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	(2,722)	(2,722)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(50,983)	(52,251)
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Boston Properties, Inc.	5,775,533	5,786,295
Noncontrolling interests:
Common units of Boston Properties Limited Partnership	617,252	614,982
Property partnerships	1,529,653	1,530,647
Total equity / capital	7,922,438	7,931,924
Total liabilities and equity / capital	18,966,627	18,851,643
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
ASSETS
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,908,551 and $6,760,078 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	19,978,869	19,733,872
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(774,077) and $(758,640) at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	(4,214,265)	(4,136,364)
Total real estate	15,764,604	15,597,508
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $271,494 and $253,999 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	302,939	356,914
Cash held in escrows (amounts related to VIEs of $4,901 and $4,955 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	51,244	63,174
Investments in securities	25,817	23,814
Tenant and other receivables (amounts related to VIEs of $16,652 and $23,525 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	73,012	92,548
Accrued rental income (amounts related to VIEs of $227,638 and $224,185 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	812,124	799,138
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $277,519 and $290,436 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	666,677	686,163
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $68,910 and $42,718 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	150,905	129,666
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	793,932	775,198
Total assets	18,641,254	18,524,123
Liabilities:
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,004,163 and $2,018,483 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	2,046,959	2,063,087
Unsecured senior notes, net	7,248,152	7,245,953
Unsecured line of credit	105,000	0
Mezzanine notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $306,734 and $307,093 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	306,734	307,093
Outside members’ notes payable (amounts related to VIEs of $180,000 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016)	180,000	180,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $133,749 and $110,457 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	313,723	298,524
Dividends and distributions payable	130,418	130,308
Accrued interest payable (amounts related to VIEs of $171,395 and $162,226 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	266,714	243,933
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $181,535 and $175,146 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	446,489	450,821
Total liabilities	11,044,189	10,919,719
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Noncontrolling interest:
Redeemable partnership units—17,277,109 and 17,079,511 common units and 811,476 and 904,588 long term incentive units outstanding at redemption value at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	2,395,110	2,262,040
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized
5.25% Series B cumulative redeemable preferred stock/unit, liquidation preference $2,500 per share/unit, 92,000 shares authorized, 80,000 shares/units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	193,623	193,623
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(59,439)	(60,853)
Noncontrolling interests:
Boston Properties Limited Partnership partners’ capital—1,719,378 and 1,717,743 general partner units and 152,129,853 and 152,072,432 limited partner units outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	3,478,679	3,618,094
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount Redeemable Interest in Property Partnerships	1,529,653	1,530,647
Total equity / capital	5,201,955	5,342,364
Total liabilities and equity / capital	$ 18,641,254	$ 18,524,123