Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 21, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-13087
Entity Registrant Name	BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001037540
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-2473675
Entity Address, Address Line One	Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Suite 1900
Entity Address, City or Town	Boston
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	02199-8103
City Area Code	617
Local Phone Number	236-3300
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 19,902,378,774
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		155,121,560
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Certain information contained in Boston Properties Inc.’s Proxy Statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 20, 2020 is incorporated by reference in Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III. Boston Properties, Inc. intends to file such Proxy Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of its fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Entity File Number	0-50209
Entity Registrant Name	BOSTON PROPERTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Entity Central Index Key	0001043121
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-3372948
Title of 12(g) Security	Units of Limited Partnership
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol	BXP
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 0.01
5.25% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depository Shares Each Representing 1/100th of a share
Trading Symbol	BXP PRB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 0.01