CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 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 INTERESTS	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 SHARES, $0.01 PAR VALUE
Exercise of share options			6	26,135
Restricted shares			2	9,625
PAID IN CAPITAL
Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares				271			(271)
EQR's Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)				2,023
Share-based employee compensation expense:
Share options				2,733
ESPP discount				357
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)				801
Change in market value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership	(99,190)			99,190
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership				4,865			(4,865)
RETAINED EARNINGS
Net income attributable to controlling interests	3,806,597				3,806,597
Common Share distributions					(3,289,355)
Preferred Share distributions					(1,545)
Other comprehensive (loss) income – derivative instruments:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period	(4,467)					(4,467)
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income	(32,922)					32,922
Currency translation adjustments arising during the period	50					50
OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
Issuance of restricted units to Noncontrolling Interests							1
Equity compensation associated with Noncontrolling Interests							13,903
Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(152,089)						152,089
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests							(129,757)	(27,714)
Change in carrying value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership	10,731						(10,731)
PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES
Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,545							1,545
Other								25,839
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2016	11,160,578	$ 37,280	$ 3,656	$ 8,718,365	$ 2,524,788	$ (123,511)
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2016	$ 246,026						$ 241,748	$ 4,278