Cover - $ / shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Aug. 02, 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2021
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	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
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 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 Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		156,169,178
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 0.01
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Trading Symbol	BXP
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2021
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	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-3372948
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