Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,717,227 and $6,702,830 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 23,902,226	$ 23,752,630
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	237,501	237,507
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,306,601) and $(1,283,060) at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(5,995,760)	(5,883,961)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $266,593 and $300,937 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	436,271	452,692
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $8,414 and $6,824 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	56,132	70,186
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $356,640 and $357,395 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	1,243,395	1,226,745
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $174,063 and $174,637 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	609,205	618,798
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $39,362 and $29,668 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	128,472	57,811
Secured Debt	3,268,745	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,420 and $20,458 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	245,554	244,421
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $30,804 and $29,464 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	304,576	320,775
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $128,581 and $150,131 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 396,283	$ 391,441
Reedemable deferred stock units, units	85,645	83,073
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	154,962,312
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,749,402
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	156,790,614	156,623,749
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,711,714	156,544,849
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 $6,717,227 and $6,702,830 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 23,529,828	$ 23,379,243
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	237,501	237,507
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,306,601) and $(1,283,060) at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(5,882,385)	(5,772,018)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $266,593 and $300,937 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	436,271	452,692
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $8,414 and $6,824 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	56,132	70,186
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $356,640 and $357,395 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	1,243,395	1,226,745
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $174,063 and $174,637 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	609,205	618,798
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $39,362 and $29,668 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	128,472	57,811
Secured Debt	3,268,745	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,420 and $20,458 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	245,554	244,421
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $30,804 and $29,464 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	304,576	320,775
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $128,581 and $150,131 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 396,283	$ 391,441
Reedemable deferred stock units, units	85,645	83,073
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	154,962,312	154,798,935
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,749,402	1,745,914
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,717,227 and $6,702,830 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 6,717,227	$ 6,702,830
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,306,601) and $(1,283,060) at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(1,306,601)	(1,283,060)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $266,593 and $300,937 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	266,593	300,937
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $8,414 and $6,824 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	8,414	6,824
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $356,640 and $357,395 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	356,640	357,395
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $174,063 and $174,637 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	174,063	174,637
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $39,362 and $29,668 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	39,362	29,668
Secured Debt	3,268,745	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,420 and $20,458 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	20,420	20,458
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $30,804 and $29,464 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	30,804	29,464
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $128,581 and $150,131 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	128,581	150,131
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,717,227 and $6,702,830 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	6,717,227	6,702,830
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,306,601) and $(1,283,060) at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(1,306,601)	(1,283,060)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $266,593 and $300,937 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	266,593	300,937
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $8,414 and $6,824 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	8,414	6,824
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $356,640 and $357,395 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	356,640	357,395
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $174,063 and $174,637 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	174,063	174,637
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $39,362 and $29,668 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	39,362	29,668
Secured Debt	3,268,745	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,420 and $20,458 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	20,420	20,458
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $30,804 and $29,464 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	30,804	29,464
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $128,581 and $150,131 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 128,581	$ 150,131