Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital Partners' Capital Changes in Issued and Outstanding Partners' Capital Units (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	495,637	190,857
Limited Partners' Ending Balance	152,605,746
General Partners' Ending Balance	1,719,540
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
General Partners' Beginning Balance	1,717,743
Limited Partners Beginning Balance	152,072,432
Partners' Capital Beginning Balance	153,790,175	153,579,966	153,113,945
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	6,317	5,695	6,199
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net	33,157	13,657	35,586
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	495,637	190,857	424,236
Limited Partners' Ending Balance	152,605,746	152,072,432
Partners' Capital Ending Balance	154,325,286	153,790,175	153,579,966
General Partners' Ending Balance	1,719,540	1,717,743
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | General Partner [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
General Partners' Beginning Balance	1,717,743	1,715,092	1,710,644
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	21	72	59
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net	111	172	340
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	1,665	2,407	4,049
General Partners' Ending Balance	1,719,540	1,717,743	1,715,092
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Limited Partner [Member]
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Limited Partners Beginning Balance	152,072,432	151,864,874	151,403,301
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	6,296	5,623	6,140
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net	33,046	13,485	35,246
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units	493,972	188,450	420,187
Limited Partners' Ending Balance	152,605,746	152,072,432	151,864,874