Earnings Per Share / Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 77,890	$ 143,047
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	156,803,000	156,650,000
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.50	$ 0.91
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.91
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	240,000	354,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 77,890	$ 143,047
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	157,043,000	157,004,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.50	$ 0.91
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Redeemable Common Units	17,849,000	17,626,000
Basic Earnings:
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 88,830	$ 161,829
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	174,652,000	174,276,000
Net income attributable to the company's common shareholders / unitholders (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.51	$ 0.93
Earnings Per Share After Allocation of Undistributed Earnings to Participating Securities Basic (dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.93
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock Based Compensation	$ 0	$ 0
Stock Based Compensation (in shares / units)	240,000	354,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment (per share)	$ 0	$ 0
Diluted Earnings:
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders	$ 88,830	$ 161,829
Diluted Earnings: Net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders / unitholders (in shares / units)	174,892,000	174,630,000
Diluted Earnings: Net income, Per Share Amount (in dollars per share / unit)	$ 0.51	$ 0.93