Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]	Total Stockholders Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest Exchangeable Operating Partnership Units [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests In Limited Partners Interest In Consolidated Partnerships [Member]	Total Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 6,058,147	$ 1,697	$ (24,436)	$ 7,792,082	$ (18,625)	$ (1,765,806)	$ 5,984,912	$ 35,727	$ 37,508	$ 73,235
Net income	178,457					176,146	176,146	796	1,515	2,311
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	3,294				3,069		3,069	15	210	225
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	2,069				1,898		1,898	8	163	171
Deferred compensation plan, net			(1,451)	1,451
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	6,043	2		6,041			6,043
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	(3,742)			(3,742)			(3,742)
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	768			768			768
Common stock issued for partnership units exchanged				99			99	(99)		(99)
Distributions to partners	(1,989)								(1,989)	(1,989)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(203,016)					(202,113)	(202,113)	(903)		(903)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	6,040,031	1,699	(25,887)	7,796,699	(13,658)	(1,791,773)	5,967,080	35,544	37,407	72,951
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	6,043,044	1,698	(24,775)	7,791,416	(12,512)	(1,786,196)	5,969,631	35,667	37,746	73,413
Net income	96,832					95,490	95,490	432	910	1,342
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	(2,231)				(2,093)		(2,093)	(10)	(128)	(138)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1,034				947		947	4	83	87
Deferred compensation plan, net			(1,112)	1,112
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	3,564	1		3,563			3,564
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	117			117			117
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	392			392			392
Issuance of exchangeable operating partnership units				99			99	(99)		(99)
Distributions to partners	(1,204)								(1,204)	(1,204)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(101,517)					(101,067)	(101,067)	(450)		(450)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	6,040,031	1,699	(25,887)	7,796,699	(13,658)	(1,791,773)	5,967,080	35,544	37,407	72,951
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	6,109,932	1,712	(22,758)	7,883,458	(10,227)	(1,814,814)	6,037,371	35,447	37,114	72,561
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	6,205,692	1,714	(23,831)	7,882,764	(1,764)	(1,726,556)	6,132,327	35,876	37,489	73,365
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	6,109,932	1,712	(22,758)	7,883,458	(10,227)	(1,814,814)	6,037,371	35,447	37,114	72,561
Net income	302,803					300,024	300,024	1,315	1,464	2,779
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	12,427				11,280		11,280	54	1,093	1,147
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1,491				1,335		1,335	7	149	156
Deferred compensation plan, net			(1,124)	1,124
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	8,574	2		8,572			8,574
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	(6,088)			(6,088)			(6,088)
Common stock repurchased and retired	(75,419)	(13)		(75,406)			(75,419)
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	252			252			252
Common stock issued for partnership units exchanged				1,275			1,275	(1,275)		(1,275)
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	61,284	10		61,274			61,284
Contributions from partners	10,446								10,446	10,446
Distributions to partners	(3,775)								(3,775)	(3,775)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(215,792)					(214,855)	(214,855)	(937)		(937)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	6,206,135	1,711	(23,882)	7,874,461	2,388	(1,729,645)	6,125,033	34,611	46,491	81,102
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	6,205,692	1,714	(23,831)	7,882,764	(1,764)	(1,726,556)	6,132,327	35,876	37,489	73,365
Net income	105,987					104,796	104,796	452	739	1,191
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification	4,213				3,743		3,743	17	453	470
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	481				409		409	3	69	72
Deferred compensation plan, net			(51)	51
Restricted stock issued, net of amortization	4,366			4,366			4,366
Common stock issued repurchased for taxes withheld for stock based compensation, net	3			3			3
Common stock repurchased and retired	(75,419)	(13)		(75,406)			(75,419)
Common stock issued under dividend reinvestment plan	134			134			134
Common stock issued for partnership units exchanged				1,275			1,275	(1,275)		(1,275)
Common stock issued, net of issuance costs	61,284	10		61,274			61,284
Contributions from partners	10,446								10,446	10,446
Distributions to partners	(2,705)								(2,705)	(2,705)
Cash dividends declared - common stock/unit	(108,347)					(107,885)	(107,885)	(462)		(462)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	$ 6,206,135	$ 1,711	$ (23,882)	$ 7,874,461	$ 2,388	$ (1,729,645)	$ 6,125,033	$ 34,611	$ 46,491	$ 81,102