Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 360,977	$ 108,297	$ 727,144	$ 311,680
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	156,754,000	156,183,000	156,708,000	156,062,000
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 2.30		$ 4.64
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	$ (762)		$ (1,002)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)	0		0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0		$ (0.01)
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic	$ 360,215	$ 108,297	$ 726,142	$ 311,680
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)	156,754,000	156,183,000	156,708,000	156,062,000
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 2.30	$ 0.69	$ 4.63	$ 2.00
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	379,000	415,000	436,000	332,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 360,215	$ 108,297	$ 726,142	$ 311,680
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	157,133,000	156,598,000	157,144,000	156,394,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 2.29	$ 0.69	$ 4.62	$ 1.99
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Redeemable Common Units	17,662,000	17,011,000	17,631,000	17,016,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 403,578	$ 122,014	$ 819,195	$ 353,633
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	174,416,000	173,194,000	174,339,000	173,078,000
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 2.31		$ 4.70	$ 2.04
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	$ (848)		$ (1,115)
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in shares / units)	0		0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0		$ (0.01)
Net Income Available To Common Stockholders After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic	$ 402,730	$ 122,014	$ 818,080	$ 353,633
Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (in shares)	174,416,000	173,194,000	174,339,000	173,078,000
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 2.31	$ 0.70	$ 4.69	$ 2.04
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	379,000	415,000	436,000	332,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ 0
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 402,730	$ 122,014	$ 818,080	$ 353,633
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	174,795,000	173,609,000	174,775,000	173,410,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 2.30	$ 0.70	$ 4.68	$ 2.04