Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 133,709	$ 96,597	$ 230,764	$ 278,323
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	154,177,000	153,662,000	154,019,000	153,644,000
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.87	$ 0.63	$ 1.50	$ 1.81
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (numerator)	$ (43)		$ (9)	$ (241)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares)	0		0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per shares / units)	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 133,666		$ 230,755	$ 278,082
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	154,177,000		154,019,000	153,644,000
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.87		$ 1.50	$ 1.81
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation, Income (Numerator)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)	154,000	198,000	254,000	245,000
Stock Based Compensation, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (Numerator)	$ 133,666	$ 96,597	$ 230,755	$ 278,082
Net income attributable to to the Company's shareholders / unitholder (number of shares)	154,331,000	153,860,000	154,273,000	153,889,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.87	$ 0.63	$ 1.50	$ 1.81
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Entity Information [Line Items]
Redeemable Common Units	17,498,000	17,708,000	17,609,000	17,695,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 151,844	$ 109,938	$ 262,506	$ 317,234
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	171,675,000	171,370,000	171,628,000	171,339,000
Net income (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.88	$ 0.64	$ 1.53	$ 1.85
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (numerator)	$ (48)		$ (10)	$ (269)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares)	0		0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per shares / units)	$ 0		$ 0	$ 0.00
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 151,796		$ 262,496	$ 316,965
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	171,675,000		171,628,000	171,339,000
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.88		$ 1.53	$ 1.85
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation, Income (Numerator)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation, Shares / Units (Denominator)	154,000	198,000	254,000	245,000
Stock Based Compensation, Per Share / Unit Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (Numerator)	$ 151,796	$ 109,938	$ 262,496	$ 316,965
Net income attributable to to the Company's shareholders / unitholder (number of shares)	171,829,000	171,568,000	171,882,000	171,584,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.88	$ 0.64	$ 1.53	$ 1.85