Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Excess stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Excess stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Excess stock, shares issued	0	0
Excess stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	153,928,131	153,869,075
Common stock, shares outstanding	153,849,231	153,790,175
Treasury common stock at cost, shares	78,900	78,900
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,719,378
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,129,853
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 20,392,260	$ 20,147,263
Construction in Progress	1,211,324	1,037,959
Accumulated depreciation	(4,302,283)	(4,222,235)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	302,939	356,914
Cash held in escrow	51,244	63,174
Tenant and other receivables	73,012	92,548
Accrued rental income	812,124	799,138
Deferred Charges, net	666,677	686,163
Prepaid expense and other assets	150,905	129,666
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,046,959	2,063,087
Mezzanine notes payable	306,734	307,093
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	313,723	298,524
Accrued interest payable	266,714	243,933
Other Liabilities	$ 446,489	$ 450,821
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	92,000	92,000
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share)	$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500
Series B, shares issued	80,000	80,000
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	80,000	80,000
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding	17,277,109	17,079,511
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding	811,476	904,588
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,719,378	1,717,743
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,129,853	152,072,432
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 19,978,869	$ 19,733,872
Construction in Progress	1,211,324	1,037,959
Accumulated depreciation	(4,214,265)	(4,136,364)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	302,939	356,914
Cash held in escrow	51,244	63,174
Tenant and other receivables	73,012	92,548
Accrued rental income	812,124	799,138
Deferred Charges, net	666,677	686,163
Prepaid expense and other assets	150,905	129,666
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,046,959	2,063,087
Mezzanine notes payable	306,734	307,093
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	313,723	298,524
Accrued interest payable	266,714	243,933
Other Liabilities	$ 446,489	$ 450,821
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share)	$ 2,500	$ 2,500
Series B, shares issued	80,000	80,000
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	80,000	80,000
VIE
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 6,908,551	$ 6,760,078
Construction in Progress	0
Accumulated depreciation	(774,077)	(758,640)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	271,494	253,999
Cash held in escrow	4,901	4,955
Tenant and other receivables	16,652	23,525
Accrued rental income	227,638	224,185
Deferred Charges, net	277,519	290,436
Prepaid expense and other assets	68,910	42,718
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,004,163	2,018,483
Mezzanine notes payable	306,734	307,093
Outside member's notes payable	180,000	180,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	133,749	110,457
Accrued interest payable	171,395	162,226
Other Liabilities	181,535	175,146
VIE | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	6,908,551	6,760,078
Construction in Progress	0	0
Accumulated depreciation	(774,077)	(758,640)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	271,494	253,999
Cash held in escrow	4,901	4,955
Tenant and other receivables	16,652	23,525
Accrued rental income	227,638	224,185
Deferred Charges, net	277,519	290,436
Prepaid expense and other assets	68,910	42,718
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,004,163	2,018,483
Mezzanine notes payable	306,734	307,093
Outside member's notes payable	180,000	180,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	133,749	110,457
Accrued interest payable	171,395	162,226
Other Liabilities	$ 181,535	$ 175,146