Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net	$ 125	$ 155,561
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	10,990,198	10,632,606
Net income attributable to common stockholders	167,971	170,366
Loss on cash flow hedges	(17,603)	(7,231)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,949	1,468
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	471	(224)
Noncontrolling interest contribution	(35)
Dividends declared to common stockholders ($1.59 per share)	(224,083)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	(14,107)	141,319
Amortization of deferred compensation	7,781	7,861
Ending Balance	$ 10,912,542	$ 10,733,999
Dividends declared to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.59	$ 1.52
Common stock
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	$ 1,406	$ 1,385
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	1	9
Ending Balance	1,407	1,394
Additional paid-in capital
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	10,736,733	10,306,588
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	(12,492)	143,202
Amortization of deferred compensation	7,781	7,861
Ending Balance	10,732,022	10,457,651
Accumulated earnings less dividends
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	282,913	350,777
Net income attributable to common stockholders	167,971	170,366
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	471	(224)
Dividends declared to common stockholders ($1.59 per share)	(224,083)	(212,166)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	(1,616)	(1,892)
Ending Balance	225,656	306,861
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	(31,503)	(26,144)
Loss on cash flow hedges	(17,603)	(7,231)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,949	1,468
Ending Balance	(47,157)	$ (31,907)
Parent [Member]
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	10,989,549
Net income attributable to common stockholders	167,971
Loss on cash flow hedges	(17,603)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,949
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	471
Dividends declared to common stockholders ($1.59 per share)	(224,083)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	(14,107)
Amortization of deferred compensation	7,781
Ending Balance	10,911,928
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Changes in equity
Beginning Balance	649
Noncontrolling interest contribution	(35)
Ending Balance	614
Continuous Equity Program CEP V [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock, net	$ 0