Consolidated Statement of Capital and Noncontrolling Interests - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,074,200		155,718,825
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	$ 3,740	$ (9,720)
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,676	1,666
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	281	3,876
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(18,225)	(15,750)
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount	(193,623)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412)	0
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	$ 38,467	$ 23,060
Accounting Standards Update 2018-09
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]		Accounting Standards Update 2018-09
General Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	1,737,000	1,731,000	1,731,000	1,727,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares	4,000	1,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	2,000	3,000
Limited Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	154,338,000	153,584,000	153,988,000	153,063,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares	233,000	63,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	117,000	458,000
Partners' Capital (General and Limited Partners)[Member]
Beginning Balance	$ 4,392,624	$ 4,626,627	$ 4,554,639	$ 3,380,175
Allocated net income for the period	101,101	508,794
Distributions	(152,953)	(152,208)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	4,198	15,495
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(128,438)	868,168
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412)
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	20,489	7,708
Partners' Capital (General and Limited Partners)[Member] | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Beginning Balance		(1,505)
Preferred Units [Member]
Beginning Balance	0	193,623	193,623	193,623
Allocated net income for the period	2,560	2,625
Distributions	(2,560)	(2,625)
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount	(200,000)
Preferred Units [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount	(193,623)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning Balance	(45,139)	(55,700)	(49,890)	(48,335)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	3,370	(8,732)
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,381	1,367
Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member]
Beginning Balance	1,725,600	1,736,445	1,726,933	1,728,689
Allocated net income for the period	16,467	19,486
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	0
Amortization of interest rate contracts	144	144
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	281	3,876
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(18,225)	(15,750)
Total Capital [Member]
Beginning Balance	6,073,085	6,500,995	6,425,305	5,254,152
Allocated net income for the period	120,128	530,905
Distributions	(155,513)	(154,833)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	4,198	15,495
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(128,438)	868,168
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	3,370	(8,732)
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,525	1,511
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	281	3,876
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(18,225)	(15,750)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412)
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	20,489	7,708
Total Capital [Member] | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Beginning Balance		(1,505)
Total Capital [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount	(193,623)
Noncontrolling interest - Redeemable partnership units [Member]
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	1,780,044	1,639,855	$ 1,643,024	$ 2,468,753
Allocated net income for the period	11,084	57,539
Distributions	(17,287)	(17,444)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	(4,198)	(15,495)
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	128,438	(868,168)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	370	(988)
Amortization of interest rate contracts	151	155
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	18,462	15,677
Noncontrolling interest - Redeemable partnership units [Member] | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount		$ (174)
Dividends In Excess Of Earnings [Member]
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	$ (6,412)