Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital Narrative (Details)		3 Months Ended
	Jun. 02, 2017 USD ($) yr	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 27, 2018 $ / shares	Jun. 03, 2014 USD ($)
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding		154,515,486	154,458,478
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		1,725,484
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		152,790,002
Shares of Common Stock in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units (in shares)		14,129
Common Stock, Value, Issued | $		$ 1,545,000	$ 1,545,000
ATM Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
At the market stock offering program, aggregate value of common stock | $	$ 600,000,000				$ 600,000,000
At Market Stock Offering Program Maximum Length Of Sale In Years | yr	3
Common Stock, Value, Issued | $		$ 0
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		80,000	80,000
Series B, Dividend Rate, Percentage		5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500	$ 2,500.00
Ratio of depository shares to shares of Series B Preferred Stock		0.01
Depository shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		8,000,000
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 25.00		$ 25.00
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Class of Stock [Line Items]
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		1,725,484	1,722,336
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding		152,790,002	152,736,142
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		80,000	80,000
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 2,500	$ 2,500