Name:	eqr_EscrowDepositsForMortgageAndReplacementReserves
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Other escrow deposits items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy that are pledged or subject to withdrawal restrictions.

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_EscrowDepositsOther
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Mortgage escrow deposits.

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_MortgageEscrowDepositsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Other cash and cash items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy that are pledged or subject to withdrawal restrictions.

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_OtherRestrictedCash
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Restricted cash and cash items pertaining to security deposits and utility deposits from residents.

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_ResidentSecurityAndUtilityDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Restricted cash and cash items primarily pertaining to deposits held by a joint venture to collateralize construction guarantees or miscellaneous deposits held in escrow that were assumed in conjunction with a business combination.

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_RestrictedDepositsOnRealEstateInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Restricted cash and cash items pertaining to "like-kind" exchanges (i.e. the proceeds from the previous sale of a property are used in part or in whole to acquire a new (replacement) property).

No definition available.

Name:	eqr_TaxDeferredExchangeProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	eqr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Cumulative amount paid into a fund, which is used to retire the debt instrument.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21475-112644

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCumulativeSinkingFundPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

A deposit made by a purchaser of real estate to evidence good faith. It is customary for a buyer to give the seller earnest money at the time a sales contract is signed. The earnest money generally is credited to the down payment at closing, which is applied at closing as a component of payment against the purchase price.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_EarnestMoneyDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element excludes replacement reserves which are an escrow separately provided for within the US GAAP taxonomy.

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Name:	us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents those amounts set aside for the repair and replacement of real or personal property in the foreseen future. Such amount may be funded from sales revenue (for example; timeshare sales) or operating revenues; in a lump sum or installments (such as monthly); as per internal policy (for example: hotel operators), as required by contractual agreement (for example: sales contract); or by the terms of debt agreements.

Name:	us-gaap_ReplacementReserveEscrow
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of cash restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

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

Amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

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