Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 959,958	$ 602,003	$ 526,696
Management and other fees from affiliates	9,347	7,263	8,457
Total revenues	969,305	609,266	535,153
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	203,040	138,736	123,813
Real estate taxes	107,873	57,276	48,354
Depreciation and amortization	360,592	192,420	169,173
General and administrative	40,878	26,684	24,573
Merger and integration expenses	53,530	4,284	0
Acquisition and disposition costs	1,878	1,161	2,215
Total expenses	767,791	420,561	368,128
Earnings from operations	201,514	188,705	167,025
Interest expense	(164,551)	(116,524)	(111,888)
Interest and other income	11,811	11,633	13,833
Equity income from co-investments	39,893	55,865	41,745
Loss on early retirement of debt, net	(268)	(300)	(5,009)
Gain on sale of real estate and land	46,039	1,503	0
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	0	21,947
Income before discontinued operations	134,438	140,882	127,653
Income from discontinued operations	0	31,173	11,937
Net income	134,438	172,055	139,590
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(12,288)	(15,772)	(14,306)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	122,150	156,283	125,284
Dividends to preferred stockholders	(5,291)	(5,472)	(5,472)
Net income available to common stockholders	116,859	150,811	119,812
Basic:
Income before discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.07	$ 3.26	$ 3.10
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.79	$ 0.32
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.07	$ 4.05	$ 3.42
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year	56,546,959	37,248,960	35,032,491
Diluted:
Income before discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.06	$ 3.25	$ 3.09
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.79	$ 0.32
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.06	$ 4.04	$ 3.41
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year	56,696,525	37,335,295	35,124,921
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property	959,958	602,003	526,696
Management and other fees from affiliates	9,347	7,263	8,457
Total revenues	969,305	609,266	535,153
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	203,040	138,736	123,813
Real estate taxes	107,873	57,276	48,354
Depreciation and amortization	360,592	192,420	169,173
General and administrative	40,878	26,684	24,573
Merger and integration expenses	53,530	4,284	0
Acquisition and disposition costs	1,878	1,161	2,215
Total expenses	767,791	420,561	368,128
Earnings from operations	201,514	188,705	167,025
Interest expense	(164,551)	(116,524)	(111,888)
Interest and other income	11,811	11,633	13,833
Equity income from co-investments	39,893	55,865	41,745
Loss on early retirement of debt, net	(268)	(300)	(5,009)
Gain on sale of real estate and land	46,039	1,503	0
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	0	21,947
Income before discontinued operations	134,438	140,882	127,653
Income from discontinued operations	0	31,173	11,937
Net income	134,438	172,055	139,590
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(7,421)	(6,834)	(6,347)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	127,017	165,221	133,243
Preferred interest distributions - Series F, G, & H	(5,291)	(5,472)	(5,472)
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 121,726	$ 159,749	$ 127,771
Basic:
Income before discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.07	$ 3.27	$ 3.11
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.79	$ 0.32
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.07	$ 4.06	$ 3.43
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year	58,771,666	39,380,385	37,251,537
Diluted:
Income before discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.07	$ 3.26	$ 3.10
Income from discontinued operations available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.79	$ 0.32
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.07	$ 4.05	$ 3.42
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year	58,921,232	39,466,720	37,343,967