Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue
Lease		$ 692,225		$ 2,051,665
Base rent			$ 525,875		$ 1,561,821
Recoveries from tenants			102,424		292,801
Total revenue		743,553	686,284	2,203,061	2,011,919
Expenses
Rental		265,603	247,989	781,091	726,108
General and administrative		31,147	29,677	107,980	94,039
Transaction costs		538	914	1,415	1,409
Depreciation and amortization		165,862	157,996	507,867	480,210
Total expenses		474,322	447,920	1,432,266	1,334,779
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		(649)	(4,313)	47,528	(3,083)
Gains (losses) on sales of real estate		(15)	7,863	766	122,552
Interest and other income		7,178	2,822	14,546	7,049
Gains (losses) from investments in securities		106	1,075	4,240	1,454
Impairment loss		0	0	(24,038)	0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt		(28,010)	0	(28,010)	0
Interest expense		(106,471)	(95,366)	(309,837)	(277,790)
Net income		141,370	150,445	475,990	527,322
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships		(18,470)	(14,850)	(54,782)	(46,484)
Noncontrolling interest—common units of Boston Properties Limited Partnership		(12,504)	(13,852)	(43,133)	(49,128)
Net income attributable to the Company		110,396	121,743	378,075	431,710
Preferred dividends / distributions		(2,625)	(2,625)	(7,875)	(7,875)
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders		$ 107,771	$ 119,118	$ 370,200	$ 423,835
Basic earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders
Earnings Per Share, Basic		$ 0.70	$ 0.77	$ 2.40	$ 2.74
Weighted average number of common shares / units outstanding		154,577	154,440	154,553	154,414
Diluted earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)		$ 0.70	$ 0.77	$ 2.39	$ 2.74
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)		154,820	154,678	154,847	154,652
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Lease		$ 692,225		$ 2,051,665
Base rent			$ 525,875		$ 1,561,821
Recoveries from tenants			102,424		292,801
Total revenue		743,553	686,284	2,203,061	2,011,919
Expenses
Rental		265,603	247,989	781,091	726,108
General and administrative		31,147	29,677	107,980	94,039
Transaction costs		538	914	1,415	1,409
Depreciation and amortization		164,020	156,056	501,901	474,383
Total expenses		472,480	445,980	1,426,300	1,328,952
Other income (expense)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		(649)	(4,313)	47,528	(3,083)
Gains (losses) on sales of real estate		(15)	9,154	915	126,831
Interest and other income		7,178	2,822	14,546	7,049
Gains (losses) from investments in securities		106	1,075	4,240	1,454
Impairment loss		0	0	(22,272)	0
Loss from early extinguishment of debt		(28,010)	0	(28,010)	0
Interest expense		(106,471)	(95,366)	(309,837)	(277,790)
Net income		143,212	153,676	483,871	537,428
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships		(18,470)	(14,850)	(54,782)	(46,484)
Net income attributable to the Company		124,742	138,826	429,089	490,944
Preferred dividends / distributions		(2,625)	(2,625)	(7,875)	(7,875)
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders		$ 122,117	$ 136,201	$ 421,214	$ 483,069
Basic earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders
Earnings Per Share, Basic		$ 0.71	$ 0.79	$ 2.45	$ 2.81
Weighted average number of common shares / units outstanding		172,215	171,928	172,183	171,904
Diluted earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)		$ 0.71	$ 0.79	$ 2.44	$ 2.81
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)		172,458	172,166	172,477	172,142
Parking and Other [Member]
Revenue
Other revenue		$ 25,582	$ 26,552	$ 76,807	$ 79,590
Parking and Other [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue		25,582	26,552	76,807	79,590
Hotel [Member]
Revenue
Other revenue	[1]	13,014	13,664	36,796	37,373
Expenses
Operating expense		8,743	8,828	25,686	25,642
Hotel [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue		13,014	13,664	36,796	37,373
Expenses
Operating expense		8,743	8,828	25,686	25,642
Development and Management Services [Member]
Revenue
Other revenue		10,303	15,253	29,566	32,963
Expenses
Operating expense		2,429	2,516	8,227	7,371
Development and Management Services [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue		10,303	15,253	29,566	32,963
Expenses
Operating expense		2,429	2,516	8,227	7,371
Direct reimbursements of payroll and related costs from management services contracts
Revenue
Other revenue		2,429	2,516	8,227	7,371
Expenses
Rental		261,592	244,265	769,184	717,199
Direct reimbursements of payroll and related costs from management services contracts | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue		$ 2,429	$ 2,516	$ 8,227	$ 7,371

[1] Rental Revenue is equal to Total Revenue per the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations, less Development and Management Services Revenue and Direct Reimbursements of Payroll and Related Costs from Management Services Contracts Revenue per the Consolidated Statements of Operations.