Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenue
Lease	$ 2,753,014,000	$ 2,646,261,000	$ 2,758,014,000
Total revenue	2,888,621,000	2,765,686,000	2,960,562,000
Expenses
Rental	1,021,151,000	1,017,208,000	1,050,010,000
General and administrative	151,573,000	133,112,000	140,777,000
Transaction costs	5,036,000	1,531,000	1,984,000
Depreciation and amortization	717,336,000	683,751,000	677,764,000
Total expenses	1,920,581,000	1,860,364,000	1,914,925,000
Other income (expense)
Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	(2,570,000)	(85,110,000)	46,592,000
Gains on sales of real estate	123,660,000	618,982,000	709,000
Interest and other income (loss)	5,704,000	5,953,000	18,939,000
Gains from investments in securities	5,626,000	5,261,000	6,417,000
Impairment loss	0	0	(24,038,000)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	(45,182,000)	0	(29,540,000)
Interest expense	(423,346,000)	(431,717,000)	(412,717,000)
Net income	631,932,000	1,018,691,000	651,999,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(70,806,000)	(48,260,000)	(71,120,000)
Noncontrolling interest - common units of the Operating Partnership	(55,931,000)	(97,704,000)	(59,345,000)
Net income attributable to the Company	505,195,000	872,727,000	521,534,000
Preferred dividends / distributions	(2,560,000)	(10,500,000)	(10,500,000)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412,000)	0	0
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 496,223,000	$ 862,227,000	$ 511,034,000
Basic earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 3.18	$ 5.54	$ 3.31
Weighted average number of common shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	156,116	155,432	154,582
Diluted earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.17	$ 5.54	$ 3.30
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	156,376	155,517	154,883
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Lease	$ 2,753,014,000	$ 2,646,261,000	$ 2,758,014,000
Total revenue	2,888,621,000	2,765,686,000	2,960,562,000
Expenses
Rental	1,021,151,000	1,017,208,000	1,050,010,000
General and administrative	151,573,000	133,112,000	140,777,000
Transaction costs	5,036,000	1,531,000	1,984,000
Depreciation and amortization	709,035,000	676,666,000
Total expenses	1,912,280,000	1,853,279,000	1,907,117,000
Other income (expense)
Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures	(2,570,000)	(85,110,000)	46,592,000
Gains on sales of real estate	125,198,000	631,945,000	858,000
Interest and other income (loss)	5,704,000	5,953,000	18,939,000
Gains from investments in securities	5,626,000	5,261,000	6,417,000
Impairment loss	0	0	(22,272,000)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	(45,182,000)	0	(29,540,000)
Interest expense	(423,346,000)	(431,717,000)	(412,717,000)
Net income	641,771,000	1,038,739,000	661,722,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(70,806,000)	(48,260,000)	(71,120,000)
Net income attributable to the Company	570,965,000	990,479,000	590,602,000
Preferred dividends / distributions	(2,560,000)	(10,500,000)	(10,500,000)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412,000)	0	0
Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 561,993,000	$ 979,979,000	$ 580,102,000
Basic earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 3.25	$ 5.67	$ 3.37
Weighted average number of common shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	173,150	172,643	172,200
Diluted earnings per common share / unit attributable to the Company
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.24	$ 5.67	$ 3.36
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	173,410	172,728	172,501
Parking and Other [Member]
Revenue
Other revenue	$ 81,814,000	$ 70,680,000	$ 103,534,000
Parking and Other [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue	81,814,000	70,680,000	103,534,000
Hotel [Member]
Revenue
Other revenue	13,609,000	7,478,000	48,589,000
Expenses
Operating expense	12,998,000	13,136,000	34,004,000
Hotel [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue	13,609,000	7,478,000	48,589,000
Expenses
Operating expense	12,998,000	13,136,000	34,004,000
Real Estate, Other [Member]
Revenue
Other revenue	12,487,000	11,626,000	10,386,000
Expenses
Operating expense	12,487,000	11,626,000	10,386,000
Real Estate, Other [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue	12,487,000	11,626,000	10,386,000
Expenses
Operating expense	12,487,000	11,626,000	10,386,000
Management Service [Member]
Revenue
Other revenue	27,697,000	29,641,000	40,039,000
Management Service [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Revenue
Other revenue	$ 27,697,000	$ 29,641,000	$ 40,039,000