Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying financial statements are the consolidated financial statements of Douglas Emmett, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including our Operating Partnership and our consolidated JVs. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. Provided that we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we are generally not subject to corporate-level income tax on the earnings distributed currently to our stockholders that we derive from our REIT qualifying activities. We are subject to corporate-level tax on the earnings that we derive through our TRS.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements Changes to GAAP are established by the FASB in the form of ASUs. We consider the applicability and impact of all ASUs. Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07, "Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting" which amends "Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures" (Topic 323). The ASU simplifies the transition to the equity method of accounting by eliminating the requirement that an entity retroactively adopt the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for equity method accounting as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The ASU requires that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment qualifies for equity method accounting. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those years, which for us would be the first quarter of 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this ASU should be applied prospectively. We adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" which amends "Compensation-Stock Compensation" (Topic 718). This ASU simplifies the accounting for several aspects of share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Some of the areas for simplification apply only to nonpublic entities. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those years, which for us would be the first quarter of 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The ASU amendments are applied on a prospective or retrospective basis depending on the specific amendment. We adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or disclosures. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-17, "Interests Held Through Related Parties That Are Under Common Control". The ASU provides guidance regarding the consolidation of VIEs. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those years, which for us would be the first quarter of 2017. The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively. We adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, "Clarifying the Definition of a Business". The ASU provides guidance regarding the definition of a business with the objective of providing guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those years, which for us would be the first quarter of 2018. The ASU should be applied prospectively and early adoption is permitted. We adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or disclosures upon adoption. The ASU will impact our future financial position, results of operations and disclosures because we expect that our property acquisitions will be accounted for as asset purchases, and the related acquisition expenses will be capitalized as part of the respective asset. We historically accounted for our property acquisitions as business combinations and expensed the related acquisition expenses as incurred. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" (Topic 842). The main difference between previous GAAP and Topic 842 is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under prevailing GAAP. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under prevailing GAAP. For example, the vast majority of operating leases will remain classified as operating leases, and lessors will continue to recognize lease income for those leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Topic 842 requires an entity to separate the lease components from the non-lease components (for example, maintenance services or other activities that transfer a good or service to the customer) in a contract. Only the lease components must be accounted for in accordance with Topic 842. The consideration in the contract is allocated to the lease and non-lease components on a relative standalone price basis (for lessees) or in accordance with the allocation guidance in Topic 606 (for lessors). Topic 842 defines initial direct costs of a lease (which may be capitalized) as costs that would not have been incurred had the lease not been executed. Costs to negotiate a lease that would have been incurred regardless of whether the lease was executed, such as fixed employee salaries, are not considered to be initial direct costs, and may not be capitalized. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those years, which for us would be the first quarter of 2019, and early adoption is permitted. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606), which provides guidance for the accounting of revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition", and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Codification. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, "Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)" which amends Topic 606. The ASU clarifies the guidance for principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, "Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing" which amends Topic 606. The ASU provides guidance for identifying performance obligations and licensing. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, "Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients" which amends Topic 606. The ASU provides guidance for a variety of revenue recognition related topics. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 (Topic 606) by one year. In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05 "Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets" (Subtopic 610-20). The ASU provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. As a result, the various ASUs listed above are now effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, which for us is the first quarter of 2018. Earlier application is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within those years, which for us is the first quarter of 2017. The amendments in this ASU should be applied retrospectively. We are not planning on early adopting the ASU and we expect to use the modified retrospective method of adoption. We are currently evaluating the potential impact to our accounting, particularly with respect to our tenant recovery revenues, and whether such changes will be material to our future results of operations and financial position. As noted above, ASU 2016-02 "Leases" requires that non-lease components such as tenant recovery revenues be accounted for in accordance with ASU 2014-09, which means that the classification and timing of our tenant recovery revenues could be impacted. The FASB has not issued any other ASUs during 2017 that we expect to be applicable and have a material impact on our future financial position, results of operations or disclosures.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments Our estimates of the fair value of financial instruments were determined using available market information and widely used valuation methods. Considerable judgment is necessary to interpret market data and determine an estimated fair value. The use of different market assumptions or valuation methods may have a material effect on the estimated fair values. The FASB fair value framework hierarchy distinguishes between assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity, and the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market-based inputs. The hierarchy is as follows: Level 1 - inputs utilize unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 - inputs are observable either directly or indirectly for similar assets and liabilities in active markets. Level 3 - inputs are unobservable assumptions generated by the reporting entity

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.