Segment Information (Schedule Of Reconciliation Of Net Operating Income To Net Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 91,624	$ 497,496
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412)	0
Preferred dividends / distributions	(2,560)	(2,625)
Noncontrolling interest-common units of the Operating Partnership	(11,084)	(57,539)
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	(16,467)	(19,486)
Interest expense	(107,902)	(101,591)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	898	0
Company's share of net operating income from joint ventures	(443,947)	(471,653)
Depreciation and amortization expense	(176,565)	(171,094)
Transaction costs	(331)	(615)
General and administrative expense	(44,959)	(36,454)
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	(1,659)	5,445
Interest and other income (loss)	(1,168)	(3,017)
Gains on sales of real estate	0	(410,165)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,225)	369
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	91,624	497,496
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	6,412	0
Preferred dividends / distributions	2,560	2,625
Noncontrolling interest-common units of the Operating Partnership	11,084	57,539
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	16,467	19,486
Interest expense	107,902	101,591
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	898	0
Depreciation and amortization expense	176,565	171,094
Transaction costs	331	615
Operating expense	3,505	3,237
General and administrative expense	44,959	36,454
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	1,659	(5,445)
Interest and other income (loss)	1,168	3,017
Gains on sales of real estate	0	410,165
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	5,225	(369)
Other revenue	3,505	3,237
Company's share of Net Operating Income	424,366	452,750
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Interest expense	(25,556)	(22,583)
Company's share of net operating income from joint ventures	(24,795)	(28,758)
Depreciation and amortization expense	(34,103)	(32,035)
Transaction costs	(7)	0
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,225)	369
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Company's share of net operating income from joint ventures	24,795	28,758
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	105,773	566,333
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412)	0
Preferred dividends / distributions	(2,560)	(2,625)
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	(16,467)	(19,486)
Interest expense	(107,902)	(101,591)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	898	0
Depreciation and amortization expense	(173,500)	(169,285)
Transaction costs	(331)	(615)
General and administrative expense	(44,959)	(36,454)
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	(1,659)	5,445
Interest and other income (loss)	(1,168)	(3,017)
Gains on sales of real estate	0	(419,654)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,225)	369
Boston Properties Limited Partnership \| Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	105,773	566,333
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	6,412	0
Preferred dividends / distributions	2,560	2,625
Noncontrolling interest in property partnerships	16,467	19,486
Interest expense	107,902	101,591
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	898	0
Depreciation and amortization expense	173,500	169,285
Transaction costs	331	615
Operating expense	3,505	3,237
General and administrative expense	44,959	36,454
Gains (losses) from investments in securities	1,659	(5,445)
Interest and other income (loss)	1,168	3,017
Gains on sales of real estate	0	419,654
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures	5,225	(369)
Other revenue	3,505	3,237
Company's share of Net Operating Income	424,366	452,750
Management Service [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other revenue	(6,803)	(7,879)
Management Service [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other revenue	6,803	7,879
Management Service [Member] \| Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Operating expense	(3,505)	(3,237)
Other revenue	(6,803)	(7,879)
Management Service [Member] \| Boston Properties Limited Partnership \| Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other revenue	6,803	7,879
Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Company's share of net operating income from joint ventures	44,376	47,661
Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Company's share of net operating income from joint ventures	44,376	47,661
Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member] \| Boston Properties Limited Partnership \| Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Company's share of net operating income from joint ventures	$ 44,376	$ 47,661

The net result for the period of deducting property operating expenses from property operating revenues.

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The excess of (1) fair value of the consideration transferred to the holders of the preferred stock over (2) the carrying amount of the preferred stock in the registrant's balance sheet, during the accounting period.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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