Represents the principal amount of the Company's senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the weighted average interest rate on unsecured debt during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

When presenting a range of interest rates, the highest effective rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Latest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of all types of notes payable, as of the balance sheet date, with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13, 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from additional borrowings, net of cash paid to third parties in connection with debt origination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the issuance of long-term debt that is not secured by collateral. Excludes proceeds from tax exempt unsecured debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for a borrowing supported by a written promise to pay an obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

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Debt Notes (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Debt Notes (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes, net	$ 5,420,646,000		$ 5,477,088,000
Repayments of Notes Payable	1,250,000,000	400,000,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	Dec. 31, 2044
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	0.03%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	7.25%
Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.99%
5.250% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Notes Payable	500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.25%
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term Loan Principal Amount	750,000,000
2.375% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	2.375%
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt	450,000,000
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	449,600,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	2.52%
4.50% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.50%
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt	750,000,000
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	$ 744,700,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	4.57%
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum	2.375%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum	7.57%