Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 496,223	$ 862,227	$ 511,034
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	156,116,000	155,432,000	154,582,000
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)		$ 5.55
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities		$ (748)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)		0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per share / unit)		$ (0.01)
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic	$ 496,223	$ 861,479	$ 511,034
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)	156,116,000	155,432,000	154,582,000
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 3.18	$ 5.54	$ 3.31
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	260,000	85,000	301,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0	$ (0.01)
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 496,223	$ 861,479	$ 511,034
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	156,376,000	155,517,000	154,883,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.17	$ 5.54	$ 3.30
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Redeemable Common Units	17,034,000	17,211,000	17,618,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 561,993	$ 979,979	$ 580,102
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	173,150,000	172,643,000	172,200,000
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)		$ 5.68
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities		$ (830)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)		0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per share / unit)		$ (0.01)
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic	$ 561,993	$ 979,149	$ 580,102
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)	173,150,000	172,643,000	172,200,000
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 3.25	$ 5.67	$ 3.37
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	260,000	85,000	301,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0	$ (0.01)
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 561,993	$ 979,149	$ 580,102
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	173,410,000	172,728,000	172,501,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 3.24	$ 5.67	$ 3.36