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Organization and Basis of Presentation - Merger Purchase Price Allocation (Details) (BRE Properties, Inc. [Member], USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Apr. 01, 2014
BRE Properties, Inc. [Member]
   
Business Acquisition [Line Items]    
Cash assumed $ 140us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Rental properties and real estate under development 5,605ess_RentalPropertiesAndRealEstateUnderDevelopment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Real estate held for sale, net 108us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Co-investments 224us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Acquired in-place lease value 77ess_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCoInvestments
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Other assets 16ess_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPrepaidExpenses
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt (1,747.0)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Other liabilities (87)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (5)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionOfLessThan100PercentNoncontrollingInterestFairValue
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Total consideration for BRE merger 4,331us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
4,300us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
Cash consideration for BRE merger 556.0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember
 
Equity consideration for BRE merger $ 3,775us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableValueAssigned
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ess_BrePropertiesIncMember