Segment Information (Schedule Of Reconciliation Of Net Operating Income To Net Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 133,709	$ 96,597	$ 230,764	$ 278,323
Preferred Stock Dividends / Distributions	(2,625)	(2,589)	(5,250)	(5,207)
Noncontrolling interest-common units of the Operating Partnership	(15,473)	(11,357)	(26,933)	(32,771)
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	(15,203)	(6,814)	(19,627)	(17,278)
Interest expense	(95,143)	(105,003)	(190,677)	(210,312)
Depreciation and amortization expense	(151,919)	(153,175)	(311,124)	(312,623)
Transaction costs	(299)	(913)	(333)	(938)
General and administrative expense	(27,141)	(25,418)	(58,527)	(54,771)
Gains from early extinguishments of debt	(14,354)	0	(14,354)	0
Gains from investments in securities	(730)	(478)	(1,772)	(737)
Interest and other income	(1,504)	(1,524)	(2,118)	(3,029)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,108)	(2,234)	(6,192)	(4,025)
Development and management services income	(7,365)	(5,533)	(13,837)	(12,222)
Business Intersegment, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	133,709	96,597	230,764	278,323
Preferred Stock Dividends / Distributions	2,625	2,589	5,250	5,207
Noncontrolling interest-common units of the Operating Partnership	15,473	11,357	26,933	32,771
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	15,203	6,814	19,627	17,278
Interest expense	95,143	105,003	190,677	210,312
Depreciation and amortization expense	151,919	153,175	311,124	312,623
Transaction costs	299	913	333	938
General and administrative expense	27,141	25,418	58,527	54,771
Gains on sales of real estate	3,767	0	3,900	67,623
Gains from early extinguishments of debt	14,354	0	14,354	0
Gains from investments in securities	730	478	1,772	737
Interest and other income	1,504	1,524	2,118	3,029
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,108	2,234	6,192	4,025
Development and management services income	7,365	5,533	13,837	12,222
Net Operating Income	410,684	392,097	801,062	824,587
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	151,844	109,938	262,506	317,234
Preferred Stock Dividends / Distributions	(2,625)	(2,589)	(5,250)	(5,207)
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	(15,203)	(6,814)	(19,627)	(17,278)
Interest expense	(95,143)	(105,003)	(190,677)	(210,312)
Depreciation and amortization expense	(149,834)	(151,191)	(306,892)	(308,652)
Transaction costs	(299)	(913)	(333)	(938)
General and administrative expense	(27,141)	(25,418)	(58,527)	(54,771)
Gains from early extinguishments of debt	(14,354)	0	(14,354)	0
Gains from investments in securities	(730)	(478)	(1,772)	(737)
Interest and other income	(1,504)	(1,524)	(2,118)	(3,029)
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,108)	(2,234)	(6,192)	(4,025)
Development and management services income	(7,365)	(5,533)	(13,837)	(12,222)
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Business Intersegment, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	151,844	109,938	262,506	317,234
Preferred Stock Dividends / Distributions	2,625	2,589	5,250	5,207
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	15,203	6,814	19,627	17,278
Interest expense	95,143	105,003	190,677	210,312
Depreciation and amortization expense	149,834	151,191	306,892	308,652
Transaction costs	299	913	333	938
General and administrative expense	27,141	25,418	58,527	54,771
Gains on sales of real estate	4,344	0	4,477	69,792
Gains from early extinguishments of debt	14,354	0	14,354	0
Gains from investments in securities	730	478	1,772	737
Interest and other income	1,504	1,524	2,118	3,029
Income from unconsolidated joint ventures	3,108	2,234	6,192	4,025
Development and management services income	7,365	5,533	13,837	12,222
Net Operating Income	$ 410,684	$ 392,097	$ 801,062	$ 824,587