Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Excess stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Excess stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Excess stock, shares issued	0	0
Excess stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	154,441,203	154,404,186
Common stock, shares outstanding	154,362,303	154,325,286
Treasury common stock at cost, shares	78,900	78,900
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,721,890
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,640,413
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 21,316,644	$ 21,096,642
Accumulated depreciation	(4,674,838)	(4,589,634)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	294,571	434,767
Cash held in escrow	160,558	70,602
Tenant and other receivables	73,401	92,186
Accrued rental income	888,907	861,575
Deferred Charges, net	681,369	679,038
Prepaid expense and other assets	147,256	77,971
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,974,930	2,979,281
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	355,002	331,500
Accrued interest payable	96,176	83,646
Other Liabilities	$ 470,140	$ 443,980
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	92,000	92,000
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share)	$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500
Series B, shares issued	80,000	80,000
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	80,000	80,000
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding	16,804,390	16,810,378
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding	1,022,287	818,343
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,721,890	1,719,540
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,640,413	152,605,746
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 20,908,406	$ 20,685,164
Accumulated depreciation	(4,580,949)	(4,496,959)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	294,571	434,767
Cash held in escrow	160,558	70,602
Tenant and other receivables	73,401	92,186
Accrued rental income	888,907	861,575
Deferred Charges, net	681,369	679,038
Prepaid expense and other assets	147,256	77,971
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,974,930	2,979,281
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	355,002	331,500
Accrued interest payable	96,176	83,646
Other Liabilities	$ 470,140	$ 443,980
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share)	$ 2,500	$ 2,500
Series B, shares issued	80,000	80,000
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	80,000	80,000
VIE
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 7,278,298	$ 7,172,718
Accumulated depreciation	(883,969)	(854,172)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	267,842	304,955
Cash held in escrow	6,141	6,135
Tenant and other receivables	20,023	27,057
Accrued rental income	258,593	242,589
Deferred Charges, net	272,475	281,678
Prepaid expense and other assets	61,467	33,666
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,936,778	2,939,183
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	126,300	106,683
Accrued interest payable	6,897	6,907
Other Liabilities	187,195	164,806
VIE | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	7,278,298	7,172,718
Accumulated depreciation	(883,969)	(854,172)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	267,842	304,955
Cash held in escrow	6,141	6,135
Tenant and other receivables	20,023	27,057
Accrued rental income	258,593	242,589
Deferred Charges, net	272,475	281,678
Prepaid expense and other assets	61,467	33,666
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,936,778	2,939,183
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	126,300	106,683
Accrued interest payable	6,897	6,907
Other Liabilities	$ 187,195	$ 164,806