Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
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	154,642,030	154,537,378
Common stock, shares outstanding	154,563,130	154,458,478
Treasury common stock at cost, shares	78,900	78,900
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,725,805
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,837,325
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 21,943,208	$ 21,649,896
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at June 30, 2019)	187,269	0
Accumulated depreciation	(5,050,606)	(4,897,777)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,087,001	543,359
Tenant and other receivables	87,727	86,629
Accrued rental income	973,167	934,896
Deferred Charges, net	676,082	678,724
Prepaid expense and other assets	68,701	80,943
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,956,833	2,964,572
Lease liabilities - finance leases	172,902	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	418,429	276,645
Accrued interest payable	89,289	89,267
Other Liabilities	$ 355,984	$ 503,726
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	16,828,230	16,783,558
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding	1,189,117	991,577
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,725,805	1,722,336
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,837,325	152,736,142
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 21,547,409	$ 21,251,540
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at June 30, 2019)	187,269	0
Accumulated depreciation	(4,949,822)	(4,800,475)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	1,087,001	543,359
Tenant and other receivables	87,727	86,629
Accrued rental income	973,167	934,896
Deferred Charges, net	676,082	678,724
Prepaid expense and other assets	68,701	80,943
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,956,833	2,964,572
Lease liabilities - finance leases	172,902	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	418,429	276,645
Accrued interest payable	89,289	89,267
Other Liabilities	$ 355,984	$ 503,726
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	$ 6,426,427	$ 7,481,015
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at June 30, 2019)	21,000
Accumulated depreciation	(1,011,743)	(965,500)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	245,444	296,806
Tenant and other receivables	10,309	15,519
Accrued rental income	283,891	272,466
Deferred Charges, net	226,426	263,402
Prepaid expense and other assets	25,635	26,513
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,924,151	2,929,326
Lease liabilities - finance leases	20,107
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	45,917	75,786
Other Liabilities	128,504	200,344
VIE | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	6,426,427	7,481,015
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at June 30, 2019)	21,000
Accumulated depreciation	(1,011,743)	(965,500)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	245,444	296,806
Tenant and other receivables	10,309	15,519
Accrued rental income	283,891	272,466
Deferred Charges, net	226,426	263,402
Prepaid expense and other assets	25,635	26,513
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,924,151	2,929,326
Lease liabilities - finance leases	20,107
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	45,917	75,786
Other Liabilities	$ 128,504	$ 200,344