Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,832,119 and $6,789,029 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	$ 25,559,720	$ 25,389,663
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	237,503	237,510
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,405,167) and $(1,381,401) at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	(6,424,547)	(6,298,082)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $233,981 and $259,658 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	918,952	690,333
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $13,108 and $16,521 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	85,603	81,389
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $375,008 and $367,138 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	1,297,767	1,276,580
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $172,077 and $176,597 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	720,174	733,282
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $40,737 and $11,647 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	141,933	43,589
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,273,553 and $3,272,368 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	3,273,553	3,272,368
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,641 and $20,604 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	250,567	249,335
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $37,595 and $29,466 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	397,798	417,545
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $114,694 and $114,232 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	$ 465,276	$ 450,918
Reedemable deferred stock units, units	103,454	97,853
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	155,074,901
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,754,892
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
Preferred stock / units, shares / units issued (in shares / units)	0	0
Preferred stock / units, shares / units outstanding (in shares / units)	0	0
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	156,908,693	156,836,767
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,829,793	156,757,867
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 $6,832,119 and $6,789,029 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	$ 25,193,455	$ 25,022,149
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	237,503	237,510
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,405,167) and $(1,381,401) at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	(6,306,326)	(6,180,474)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $233,981 and $259,658 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	918,952	690,333
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $13,108 and $16,521 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	85,603	81,389
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $375,008 and $367,138 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	1,297,767	1,276,580
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $172,077 and $176,597 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	720,174	733,282
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $40,737 and $11,647 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	141,933	43,589
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,273,553 and $3,272,368 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	3,273,553	3,272,368
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,641 and $20,604 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	250,567	249,335
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $37,595 and $29,466 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	397,798	417,545
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $114,694 and $114,232 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	$ 465,276	$ 450,918
Reedemable deferred stock units, units	103,454	97,853
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	155,074,901	155,008,185
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units)	1,754,892	1,749,682
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding	16,527,638	16,531,172
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding	2,131,785	1,679,175
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,832,119 and $6,789,029 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	$ 6,832,119	$ 6,789,029
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,405,167) and $(1,381,401) at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	(1,405,167)	(1,381,401)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $233,981 and $259,658 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	233,981	259,658
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $13,108 and $16,521 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	13,108	16,521
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $375,008 and $367,138 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	375,008	367,138
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $172,077 and $176,597 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	172,077	176,597
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $40,737 and $11,647 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	40,737	11,647
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,273,553 and $3,272,368 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	3,273,553	3,272,368
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,641 and $20,604 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	20,641	20,604
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $37,595 and $29,466 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	37,595	29,466
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $114,694 and $114,232 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	114,694	114,232
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,832,119 and $6,789,029 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	6,832,119	6,789,029
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	21,000	21,000
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,405,167) and $(1,381,401) at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	(1,405,167)	(1,381,401)
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $233,981 and $259,658 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	233,981	259,658
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $13,108 and $16,521 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	13,108	16,521
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $375,008 and $367,138 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	375,008	367,138
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $172,077 and $176,597 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	172,077	176,597
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $40,737 and $11,647 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	40,737	11,647
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $3,273,553 and $3,272,368 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	3,273,553	3,272,368
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,641 and $20,604 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	20,641	20,604
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $37,595 and $29,466 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	37,595	29,466
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $114,694 and $114,232 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)	$ 114,694	$ 114,232