Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,753,779 and $6,702,830 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 25,192,376	$ 23,752,630
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	237,505	237,507
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,352,781) and $(1,283,060) at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(6,170,472)	(5,883,961)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $249,124 and $300,937 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	375,774	452,692
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $11,842 and $6,824 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	69,633	70,186
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $359,439 and $357,395 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	1,250,176	1,226,745
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $176,908 and $174,637 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	720,648	618,798
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $44,525 and $29,668 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	107,538	57,811
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,271,157 and $3,267,914 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	3,271,157	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,568 and $20,458 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	248,092	244,421
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $35,043 and $29,464 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	360,572	320,775
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $104,663 and $150,131 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 417,255	$ 391,441
Reedemable deferred stock units, units	93,175	83,073
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	155,005,012
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,749,700
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	156,833,612	156,623,749
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,754,712	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 $6,753,779 and $6,702,830 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 24,824,862	$ 23,379,243
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	237,505	237,507
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,352,781) and $(1,283,060) at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(6,055,172)	(5,772,018)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $249,124 and $300,937 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	375,774	452,692
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $11,842 and $6,824 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	69,633	70,186
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $359,439 and $357,395 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	1,250,176	1,226,745
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $176,908 and $174,637 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	720,648	618,798
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $44,525 and $29,668 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	107,538	57,811
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,271,157 and $3,267,914 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	3,271,157	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,568 and $20,458 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	248,092	244,421
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $35,043 and $29,464 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	360,572	320,775
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $104,663 and $150,131 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 417,255	$ 391,441
Reedemable deferred stock units, units	93,175	83,073
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	155,005,012	154,798,935
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,749,700	1,745,914
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding	16,535,172	16,561,186
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding	1,680,123	1,485,376
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,753,779 and $6,702,830 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 6,753,779	$ 6,702,830
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,352,781) and $(1,283,060) at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(1,352,781)	(1,283,060)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $249,124 and $300,937 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	249,124	300,937
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $11,842 and $6,824 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	11,842	6,824
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $359,439 and $357,395 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	359,439	357,395
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $176,908 and $174,637 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	176,908	174,637
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $44,525 and $29,668 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	44,525	29,668
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,271,157 and $3,267,914 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	3,271,157	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,568 and $20,458 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	20,568	20,458
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $35,043 and $29,464 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	35,043	29,464
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $104,663 and $150,131 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	104,663	150,131
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,753,779 and $6,702,830 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	6,753,779	6,702,830
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,352,781) and $(1,283,060) at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	(1,352,781)	(1,283,060)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $249,124 and $300,937 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	249,124	300,937
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $11,842 and $6,824 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	11,842	6,824
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $359,439 and $357,395 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	359,439	357,395
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $176,908 and $174,637 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	176,908	174,637
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $44,525 and $29,668 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	44,525	29,668
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,271,157 and $3,267,914 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	3,271,157	3,267,914
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,568 and $20,458 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	20,568	20,458
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $35,043 and $29,464 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	35,043	29,464
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $104,663 and $150,131 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)	$ 104,663	$ 150,131