(Common Units) (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2017 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) yr $ / shares shares
OP Units [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
OP Units for redemption (in shares)		481,261
Redemption of OP units issued on conversion of LTIP Units (in shares)		22,110
Restriction on redemption of OP Unit to Common Stock (in years) | yr		1
Redemption of OP Unit equivalent to Common Stock (in shares)		1
Common units of operating partnership if converted value | $		$ 2,200.0
Closing price of common stock (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 123.02
MYLTIP 2014 [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Final awards percentage of target	27.70%
Value of MYLTIP Awards | $	$ 3.5
2014 MYLTIP Units Forfeited	447,386
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | OP Units [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
MYLTIP distribution prior to measurement date		10.00%
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | MYLTIP 2014 [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2014 MYLTIP (in units)		25,107
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | 2015 MYLTIP [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2015 MYLTIPS (in units)		366,618
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | 2016 MYLTIP [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2016 MYLTIPs (in units)		473,360
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | 2017 MYLTIP [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
2017 MYLTIP (in units)		400,000