Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 02, 2017 USD ($) yr	Dec. 31, 2017 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares	Mar. 27, 2018 $ / shares	Jun. 03, 2014 USD ($)
Class of Stock [Line Items]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)		1,719,540
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		152,605,746
Common stock, shares outstanding		154,325,286	153,790,175
Shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock by certain employees		6,688	0	11,447
Shares of its Common Stock issued in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units		495,637	190,857
ATM Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At the market stock offering program, aggregate value of common stock | $	$ 600.0					$ 600.0
At Market Stock Offering Program Maximum Length Of Sale In Years | yr	3
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding		80,000	80,000
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage		5.25%
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares		$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500		$ 2,500.00
Depositary shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding		8,000,000
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares		$ 25.00			$ 25.00
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Class of Stock [Line Items]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)		1,719,540	1,717,743
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		152,605,746	152,072,432
Shares of its Common Stock issued in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units		495,637	190,857	424,236
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding		80,000	80,000
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares		$ 2,500	$ 2,500