Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 143,047	$ 91,624
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	156,650,000	155,928,000
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic	$ 143,047	$ 91,624
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)	156,650,000	155,928,000
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 0.91	$ 0.59
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	354,000	171,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 143,047	$ 91,624
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	157,004,000	156,099,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.91	$ 0.59
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Redeemable Common Units	17,626,000	17,089,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 161,829	$ 105,773
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	174,276,000	173,018,000
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.93	$ 0.61
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic	$ 161,829	$ 105,773
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)	174,276,000	173,018,000
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.61
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	354,000	171,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 161,829	$ 105,773
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	174,630,000	173,189,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.93	$ 0.61