Real Estate Schedule of Real Estate Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		$ 5,070,208	$ 5,111,606
Right-of-use assets - finance leases		237,394	237,394
Right of use assets - operating leases		148,057	148,640
Land held for future development	[1]	264,893	254,828
Buildings and improvements		13,517,218	13,646,054
Tenant improvements		2,641,448	2,656,439
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment		44,263	44,313
Construction in progress		804,179	789,736
Total		22,727,660	22,889,010
Less: accumulated depreciation		(5,209,487)	(5,266,798)
Total real estate		17,518,173	17,622,212
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		4,972,992	5,011,153
Right-of-use assets - finance leases		237,394	237,394
Right of use assets - operating leases		148,057	148,640
Land held for future development	[1]	264,893	254,828
Buildings and improvements		13,232,157	13,351,286
Tenant improvements		2,641,448	2,656,439
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment		44,263	44,313
Construction in progress		804,179	789,736
Total		22,345,383	22,493,789
Less: accumulated depreciation		(5,107,243)	(5,162,908)
Total real estate		$ 17,238,140	$ 17,330,881

[1] Includes pre-development costs.