Real Estate Schedule of Real Estate Properties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		$ 5,068,843	$ 5,069,206
Right-of-use assets - finance leases		237,017	237,393
Right of use assets - operating leases		144,143	146,406
Land held for future development	[1]	421,349	450,954
Buildings and improvements		14,004,418	13,777,691
Tenant improvements		2,816,726	2,752,880
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment		51,549	49,606
Construction in progress		794,039	868,773
Total		23,538,084	23,352,909
Less: accumulated depreciation		(5,665,061)	(5,534,102)
Total real estate		17,873,023	17,818,807
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Land		4,971,990	4,971,990
Right-of-use assets - finance leases		237,017	237,393
Right of use assets - operating leases		144,143	146,406
Land held for future development	[1]	421,349	450,954
Buildings and improvements		13,725,776	13,498,098
Tenant improvements		2,816,726	2,752,880
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment		51,549	49,606
Construction in progress		794,039	868,773
Total		23,162,589	22,976,100
Less: accumulated depreciation		(5,557,784)	(5,428,576)
Total real estate		$ 17,604,805	$ 17,547,524

[1] Includes pre-development costs.