CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) - 3 months ended Mar. 31, 2016 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	PREFERRED SHARES	COMMON SHARES, $0.01 PAR VALUE	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	RETAINED EARNINGS	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Partially Owned [Domain]
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 10,470,368	$ 37,280	$ 3,648	$ 8,572,365	$ 2,009,091	$ (152,016)
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2015	225,987						$ 221,379	$ 4,608
Common Share Issuance:
Exercise of share options			6	20,681
Restricted shares			1	5,133
PAID IN CAPITAL
Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares				144			(144)
EQR's Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)				982
Share-based employee compensation expense:
Share options				810
ESPP discount				173
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)				1,341
Change in market value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership	(55,478)			55,478
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership				1,062			(1,062)
Net income attributable to controlling interests	3,587,758				3,587,758
Common Share distributions					(3,105,215)
Preferred Share distributions					(773)
Other comprehensive income (loss) – derivative instruments:
Unrealized holding (losses) arising during the period	(2,906)					(2,906)
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income	(28,654)					28,654
Currency translation adjustments arising during the period	75					75
OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
Issuance of restricted units to Noncontrolling Interests							1
Equity compensation associated with Noncontrolling Interests							9,335
Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(143,309)						143,309
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests							(122,499)	(26,781)
Change in carrying value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership	9,775						(9,775)
PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES
Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	764							764
Other								25,808
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2016	244,943						$ 240,544	$ 4,399
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 11,063,772	$ 37,280	$ 3,655	$ 8,658,169	$ 2,490,861	$ (126,193)