Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 30, 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. Our Operating Partnership and consolidated JVs are VIEs and we are the primary beneficiary.
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 Accounting Pronouncements In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities". The purpose of the ASU is to better align financial reporting for hedging activities with the economic objectives of those activities. The ASU requires periodic hedge ineffectiveness for derivatives designated as cash flow hedges and net investment hedges to be recognized in AOCI and no longer in earnings. 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. The ASU requires the cumulative effect of initially applying the ASU as an adjustment to AOCI with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year that the ASU is adopted. The amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required on a prospective basis. We do not expect the ASU to have a material impact on our financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" (Topic 842). The primary difference between Topic 842 and current GAAP is the recognition of lease assets and liabilities by lessees for leases classified as operating leases under current GAAP. The accounting applied by lessors is largely unchanged from current 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 annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which for us would be the first quarter of 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The ASU is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach which includes optional practical expedients related to leases that commenced before the effective date. We are currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on our financial statements. 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 August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, "Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)" which amends Topic 606 and 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 and 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 and provides guidance for a variety of revenue recognition related topics. In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-05 "Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets" (Subtopic 610-20), which provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. The various ASU's are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, which for us is the first quarter of 2018. Earlier application is permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016, which for us was the first quarter of 2017. The amendments in these ASU's should be applied retrospectively. We are not planning on early adopting the ASU's and we currently evaluating method of adoption. We do not expect the ASU's to have a material impact on our financial statements. The FASB has not issued any other ASUs during 2017 that we expect to be applicable and have a material impact on our financial statements.
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.