Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,664,480 and $6,592,019 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	$ 23,417,175	$ 22,969,110
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	237,765	237,393
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,235,346) and $(1,158,548) at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	(5,752,818)	(5,534,102)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $335,837 and $340,642 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	557,307	1,668,742
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,298 and $10,911 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	58,624	77,411
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $346,443 and $336,594 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	1,172,411	1,122,502
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $173,578 and $183,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	627,338	640,085
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $12,441 and $13,137 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	46,946	33,840
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,901,709 and $2,907,590 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	2,901,709	2,909,081
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,382 and $20,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	243,381	236,492
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $40,100 and $23,128 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	305,969	336,264
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $129,477 and $158,805 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	$ 370,990	$ 412,084
Reddemable deferred stock units, units	78,362	72,966
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	154,399,324
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,736,635
Excess stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Excess stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Excess stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Excess stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	156,214,859	155,797,725
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,135,959	155,718,825
Treasury common stock at cost, shares	78,900	78,900
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,664,480 and $6,592,019 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	$ 23,041,680	$ 22,592,301
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	237,765	237,393
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,235,346) and $(1,158,548) at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	(5,643,781)	(5,428,576)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $335,837 and $340,642 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	557,307	1,668,742
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,298 and $10,911 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	58,624	77,411
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $346,443 and $336,594 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	1,172,411	1,122,502
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $173,578 and $183,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	627,338	640,085
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $12,441 and $13,137 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	46,946	33,840
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,901,709 and $2,907,590 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	2,901,709	2,909,081
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,382 and $20,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	243,381	236,492
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $40,100 and $23,128 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	305,969	336,264
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $129,477 and $158,805 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	$ 370,990	$ 412,084
Reddemable deferred stock units, units	78,362	72,966
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding	16,038,056	16,037,121
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding	1,489,456	1,336,115
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	154,399,324	153,987,904
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,736,635	1,730,921
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Preferred stock, par value		$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized		92,000
Preferred stock / units, shares / units issued (in shares / units)		80,000
Preferred stock / units, shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)		80,000
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage		5.25%
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share/ Unit		$ 2,500
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,664,480 and $6,592,019 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	$ 6,664,480	$ 6,592,019
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,235,346) and $(1,158,548) at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	(1,235,346)	(1,158,548)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $335,837 and $340,642 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	335,837	340,642
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,298 and $10,911 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	5,298	10,911
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $346,443 and $336,594 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	346,443	336,594
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $173,578 and $183,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	173,578	183,306
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $12,441 and $13,137 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	12,441	13,137
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,901,709 and $2,907,590 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	2,901,709	2,907,590
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,382 and $20,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	20,382	20,306
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $40,100 and $23,128 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	40,100	23,128
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $129,477 and $158,805 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	129,477	158,805
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,664,480 and $6,592,019 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	6,664,480	6,592,019
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,235,346) and $(1,158,548) at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	(1,235,346)	(1,158,548)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $335,837 and $340,642 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	335,837	340,642
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,298 and $10,911 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	5,298	10,911
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $346,443 and $336,594 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	346,443	336,594
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $173,578 and $183,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	173,578	183,306
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $12,441 and $13,137 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	12,441	13,137
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,901,709 and $2,907,590 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	2,901,709	2,907,590
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,382 and $20,306 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	20,382	20,306
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $40,100 and $23,128 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	40,100	23,128
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $129,477 and $158,805 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	$ 129,477	$ 158,805
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member]
Preferred stock / units, shares / units issued (in shares / units)		80,000
Preferred stock / units, shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)		80,000
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage		5.25%
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share/ Unit		$ 2,500