Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Entity Information [Line Items]

Computation Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share

	Three months ended March 31, 2018
	Income (Numerator)			Shares (Denominator)	Per Share Amount
	(in thousands, except for per share amounts)
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties, Inc. common shareholders	$	176,021		154,385	$	1.14
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	(127		)	—	—
Net income attributable to Boston Properties, Inc. common shareholders	$	175,894		154,385	$	1.14
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	—			320	—
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties, Inc. common shareholders	$	175,894		154,705	$	1.14

	Three months ended March 31, 2017
	Income (Numerator)		Shares (Denominator)	Per Share Amount
	(in thousands, except for per share amounts)
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties, Inc. common shareholders	$	97,083	153,860	$	0.63
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	—		354	—
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties, Inc. common shareholders	$	97,083	154,214	$	0.63

Boston Properties Limited Partnership

Entity Information [Line Items]

Computation Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share

	Three months ended March 31, 2018
	Income (Numerator)			Units (Denominator)	Per Unit Amount
	(in thousands, except for per unit amounts)
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership common unitholders	$	200,907		171,867	$	1.17
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	(141		)	—	—
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership common unitholders	$	200,766		171,867	$	1.17
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	—			320	—
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership common unitholders	$	200,766		172,187	$	1.17

	Three months ended March 31, 2017
	Income (Numerator)		Units (Denominator)	Per Unit Amount
	(in thousands, except for per unit amounts)
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership common unitholders	$	110,662	171,581	$	0.64
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	—		354	—
Diluted Earnings:
Net income attributable to Boston Properties Limited Partnership common unitholders	$	110,662	171,935	$	0.64