Name:	eqr_AbilityToIncreaseLineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the gross amount of commercial paper outstanding, not adjusted for the discount.

No definition available.

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

Commercial Paper Weighted average period outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_CommercialPaperWeightedAveragePeriodOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage points of line of credit facility commitment fee.

No definition available.

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

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

No definition available.

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

Average amount borrowed under the credit facility during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAverageOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682