CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) - 9 months ended Sep. 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
Conversion of OP Units into Common Shares			1	3,679			(3,680)
Exercise of share options			6	26,933
Restricted shares			2	12,331
PAID IN CAPITAL
EQR's Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)				2,778
Share-based employee compensation expense:
Share options				3,084
ESPP discount				490
Offering costs				(304)
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)				748
Change in market value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership	(113,308)			113,308
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interests ownership in Operating Partnership				6,434			(6,434)
RETAINED EARNINGS
Net income attributable to controlling interests	4,014,913				4,014,913
Common Share distributions					(4,570,234)
Preferred Share distributions					(2,318)
Other comprehensive (loss) income – derivative instruments:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during the period	(4,240)					(4,240)
Losses reclassified into earnings from other comprehensive income	(37,262)					37,262
Currency translation adjustments arising during the period	264					264
OPERATING PARTNERSHIP
Issuance of restricted units to Noncontrolling Interests							1
Equity compensation associated with Noncontrolling Interests							16,041
Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(160,442)						160,442
Distributions to Noncontrolling Interests							(180,230)	(28,621)
Change in carrying value of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership	(11,583)						11,583
PARTIALLY OWNED PROPERTIES
Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	2,368							2,368
Other								25,839
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2016	10,115,505	$ 37,280	$ 3,657	$ 8,741,846	$ 1,451,452	$ (118,730)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 223,296						$ 219,102	$ 4,194