Subsequent Events (Details) $ in Thousands						12 Months Ended
	Feb. 07, 2023 shares	Feb. 03, 2023 USD ($) shares	Jan. 31, 2023 USD ($) a ft²	Jan. 04, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 ft² shares	Dec. 31, 2022 ft² shares	Dec. 31, 2021 shares	Dec. 31, 2020 shares	Jan. 30, 2023 ft²	Jan. 25, 2023 USD ($) shares	Jan. 05, 2023 ft²	Sep. 08, 2022 ft²	Jun. 15, 2021 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit, Additional Borrowing Capacity | $													$ 500,000
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate					0.775%
Common stock, shares issued					156,836,767	156,836,767	156,623,749
Restricted Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued					41,818	41,818	57,383	29,630
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | LTIP Units [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of shares issued						280,616	281,640	207,181
Construction in Progress
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²					3,200,000	3,200,000
300 Binney Street
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²												195,000
300 Binney Street | Construction in Progress
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²												240,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | 2023 Unsecured Term Loan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity | $				$ 1,200,000
Line of Credit, Additional Borrowing Capacity | $				$ 300,000
Number of extensions				1
Extension Option (in months)				12
Proceeds from Unsecured Lines of Credit | $				$ 1,200,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms				At BPLP’s option, loans under the 2023 Unsecured Term Loan will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (1) a base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Federal Funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the administrative agent’s prime rate, (c) Term SOFR for a one-month period plus 1.00%, and (d) 1.00%, in each case, plus a margin ranging from 0 to 60 basis points based on BPLP’s credit rating; or (2) a rate equal to adjusted Term SOFR with a one-month period plus a margin ranging from 75 to 160 basis points based on BPLP’s credit rating.
Subsequent Event [Member] | 2023 Unsecured Term Loan | Base Rate [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				0.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] | 2023 Unsecured Term Loan | Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				0.85%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Minimum [Member] | 2023 Unsecured Term Loan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Additional Term Loans				1
Subsequent Event [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, shares issued		64,731
Subsequent Event [Member] | MYLTIP 2023
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Value of MYLTIP Awards | $										$ 13,100
Subsequent Event [Member] | MYLTIP 2023 | Minimum [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance										0
Subsequent Event [Member] | MYLTIP 2023 | Maximum [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance										322,053
Subsequent Event [Member] | MYLTIP 2023 | Target
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance										161,026
Subsequent Event [Member] | MYLTIP 2020 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Final awards percentage of target		50.00%
Value of MYLTIP Awards | $		$ 3,800
Forfeitures, in units		152,460
Subsequent Event [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership | LTIP Units [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of shares issued	401,543
Subsequent Event [Member] | 290 Binney | Construction in Progress
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²											566,000
Leased percentage											100.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] | 300 Binney Street
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²									195,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | 300 Binney Street | Construction in Progress
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²									240,000
Leased percentage									100.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Worldgate Drive
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net Rentable Area (in sf) | ft²			350,000
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture | $			$ 17,000
Ownership Percentage			50.00%
Number of buildings			2
Number of parking space			1,200
Area of Land | a			10