Consolidated Statement of Capital and Noncontrolling Interests - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,754,712	156,206,000	156,754,712	156,206,000		156,544,849
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	$ 8,528	$ 8,864	$ 45,474	$ 60,228
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	0	0	0	(6,412)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	10,800	1,088	18,400	5,482
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,677	1,676	5,030	5,028
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	0	11,318	849	13,738
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	$ (20,150)	$ (27,675)	$ (61,229)	$ (65,604)
General Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	1,750,000	1,737,000	1,750,000	1,737,000	1,750,000	1,746,000	1,737,000	1,731,000
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation	0		1,000	4,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units			3,000	2,000
Limited Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	155,005,000	154,470,000	155,005,000	154,470,000	154,977,000	154,799,000	154,399,000	153,988,000
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation	2,000	21,000	31,000	255,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	26,000	50,000	175,000	227,000
Partners' Capital (General and Limited Partners)[Member]
Beginning Balance	$ 5,197,585	$ 4,209,117	$ 5,197,585	$ 4,209,117	$ 4,716,430	$ 4,173,290	$ 4,132,880	$ 4,554,639
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation, value	2,082	1,705	6,967	21,900
Allocated net income for the period	362,818	110,043	736,374	324,652
Distributions	(153,620)	(153,082)	(460,789)	(459,048)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge				(6,412)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	959	1,748	6,388	8,033
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	268,916	115,823	735,355	(234,647)
Preferred Units [Member]
Beginning Balance								193,623
Allocated net income for the period				2,560
Distributions				(2,560)
Preferred Units [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Beginning Balance		0		0
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount		(193,623)		(193,623)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning Balance	(15,991)	(40,803)	(15,991)	(40,803)	(27,077)	(36,662)	(43,166)	(49,890)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	9,709	981	16,540	4,943
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,377	1,382	4,131	4,144
Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member]
Beginning Balance	1,551,501	1,728,101	1,551,501	1,728,101	1,552,706	1,556,553	1,725,343	1,726,933
Allocated net income for the period	18,801	18,971	54,896	52,602
Amortization of interest rate contracts	144	144	432	432
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	0	11,318	849	13,738
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(20,150)	(27,675)	(61,229)	(65,604)
Total Capital [Member]
Beginning Balance	6,733,095	5,896,415	6,733,095	5,896,415	6,242,059	5,693,181	5,815,057	6,425,305
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation, value	2,082	1,705	6,967	21,900
Allocated net income for the period	381,619	129,014	791,270	379,814
Distributions	(153,620)	(153,082)	(460,789)	(461,608)
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount		(193,623)		(193,623)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge				(6,412)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	959	1,748	6,388	8,033
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	268,916	115,823	735,355	(234,647)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	9,709	981	16,540	4,943
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,521	1,526	4,563	4,576
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships		11,318	849	13,738
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(20,150)	(27,675)	(61,229)	(65,604)
Noncontrolling interest - Redeemable partnership units [Member]
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	1,407,762	1,893,611	1,407,762	1,893,611	$ 1,646,678	$ 2,078,603	$ 2,008,478	$ 1,643,024
Net activity from contributions and unearned compensation, value	6,882	7,679	39,543	39,332
Allocated net income for the period	40,760	11,971	82,821	35,393
Distributions	(17,930)	(17,203)	(53,789)	(51,743)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	(959)	(1,748)	(6,388)	(8,033)
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(268,916)	(115,823)	(735,355)	234,647
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	1,091	107	1,860	539
Amortization of interest rate contracts	$ 156	$ 150	$ 467	$ 452