Consolidated Statements Of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Dividends In Excess Of Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock, at cost [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member]
Equity, shares at Dec. 31, 2020	155,719,000
Equity, value at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 8,339,612	$ 1,557	$ 200,000	$ 6,356,791	$ (509,653)	$ (2,722)	$ (49,890)	$ 616,596	$ 1,726,933
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, shares	118,000
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, value	$ 0	1		4,197				(4,198)
Allocated net income for the period	128,147				100,596			11,084	16,467
Dividends/distributions declared	$ (172,800)				(155,513)			(17,287)
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, shares	5,000
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, value	$ 484			484
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares	232,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	$ 38,467	3		20,002				18,462
Preferred Stock, Redeemed	(193,623)		(200,000)	6,377
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	(6,412)				(6,412)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	281								281
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(18,225)								(18,225)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	3,740						3,370	370
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,676						1,381	151	144
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest	$ 0			5,072				(5,072)
Equity, shares at Mar. 31, 2021	156,074,000
Equity, value at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 8,121,347	1,561	0	6,392,923	(570,982)	(2,722)	(45,139)	620,106	1,725,600
Equity, shares at Dec. 31, 2021	156,544,849
Equity, value at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 8,033,228	1,565	0	6,497,730	(625,891)	(2,722)	(36,662)	642,655	1,556,553
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, shares	141,000
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, value	$ 0	2		5,026				(5,028)
Allocated net income for the period	176,957				143,047			16,361	17,549
Dividends/distributions declared	$ (171,497)				(153,577)			(17,920)
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, shares	5,000
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, value	$ 600			600
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares	21,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	$ 18,921			(133)				19,054
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	849								849
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(26,640)								(26,640)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	7,565						6,800	765
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,676						1,377	155	144
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest	$ 0			6,440				(6,440)
Equity, shares at Mar. 31, 2022	156,711,714
Equity, value at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 8,041,659	$ 1,567	$ 0	$ 6,509,663	$ (636,421)	$ (2,722)	$ (28,485)	$ 649,602	$ 1,548,455