Equity, Capital and Other Interests (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Common shares and units rollforward

The following tables present the changes in the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares and “Units” (which includes OP Units and restricted units) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:

	2016		2015		2014
Common Shares
Common Shares outstanding at January 1,	364,755,444		362,855,454		360,479,260
Common Shares Issued:
Conversion of OP Units	88,838		208,307		94,671
Exercise of share options	815,044		1,456,363		2,086,380
Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)	63,909		68,462		68,807
Restricted share grants, net	147,689		168,142		169,722
Common Shares Other:
Conversion of restricted shares to restricted units	—		(1,284	)	(12,146	)
Repurchased and retired	—		—		(31,240	)
Common Shares outstanding at December 31,	365,870,924		364,755,444		362,855,454
Units
Units outstanding at January 1,	14,427,164		14,298,691		14,180,376
Restricted unit grants, net	287,749		335,496		200,840
Conversion of restricted shares to restricted units	—		1,284		12,146
Conversion of OP Units to Common Shares	(88,838	)	(208,307	)	(94,671	)
Units outstanding at December 31,	14,626,075		14,427,164		14,298,691
Total Common Shares and Units outstanding at December 31,	380,496,999		379,182,608		377,154,145
Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership	3.8	%	3.8	%	3.8	%

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests – Operating Partnership for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):

	2016			2015		2014
Balance at January 1,	$	566,783		$	500,733	$	363,144
Change in market value	(115,093		)	64,378		139,818
Change in carrying value	(9,598		)	1,672		(2,229		)
Balance at December 31,	$	442,092		$	566,783	$	500,733

Schedule Of Preferred Stock [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the Company’s issued and outstanding Preferred Shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:

				Amounts in thousands
	Redemption Date (1)	Annual Dividend per Share (2)		December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Preferred Shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized:
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred; liquidation value $50 per share; 745,600 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015	12/10/26	$	4.145	$	37,280	$	37,280
				$	37,280	$	37,280

(1) On or after the redemption date, redeemable preferred shares may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per share, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any.

(2) Dividends on Preferred Shares are payable quarterly.

ERPOP [Member]

Common shares and units rollforward

The following tables present the changes in the Operating Partnership's issued and outstanding Units and in the limited partners' Units for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:

	2016		2015		2014
General and Limited Partner Units
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,	379,182,608		377,154,145		374,659,636
Issued to General Partner:
Exercise of EQR share options	815,044		1,456,363		2,086,380
EQR's Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)	63,909		68,462		68,807
EQR's restricted share grants, net	147,689		168,142		169,722
Issued to Limited Partners:
Restricted unit grants, net	287,749		335,496		200,840
OP Units Other:
Repurchased and retired	—		—		(31,240	)
General and Limited Partner Units outstanding at December 31,	380,496,999		379,182,608		377,154,145
Limited Partner Units
Limited Partner Units outstanding at January 1,	14,427,164		14,298,691		14,180,376
Limited Partner restricted unit grants, net	287,749		335,496		200,840
Conversion of EQR restricted shares to restricted units	—		1,284		12,146
Conversion of Limited Partner OP Units to EQR Common Shares	(88,838	)	(208,307	)	(94,671	)
Limited Partner Units outstanding at December 31,	14,626,075		14,427,164		14,298,691
Limited Partner Units Ownership Interest in Operating Partnership	3.8	%	3.8	%	3.8	%

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the changes in the redemption value of the Redeemable Limited Partners for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively (amounts in thousands):

	2016			2015		2014
Balance at January 1,	$	566,783		$	500,733	$	363,144
Change in market value	(115,093		)	64,378		139,818
Change in carrying value	(9,598		)	1,672		(2,229		)
Balance at December 31,	$	442,092		$	566,783	$	500,733

Schedule Of Preferred Stock [Table Text Block]

The following table presents the Operating Partnership's issued and outstanding “Preference Units” as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:

				Amounts in thousands
	Redemption Date (1)	Annual Dividend per Unit (2)		December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Preference Units:
8.29% Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preference Units; liquidation value $50 per unit; 745,600 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015	12/10/26	$	4.145	$	37,280	$	37,280
				$	37,280	$	37,280

(1) On or after the redemption date, redeemable preference units may be redeemed for cash at the option of the Operating Partnership, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the liquidation price per unit, plus accrued and unpaid distributions, if any, in conjunction with the concurrent redemption of the corresponding Company Preferred Shares.

(2) Dividends on Preference Units are payable quarterly.