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Significant Transactions During the First Quarter of 2015 and Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Jan. 31, 2015
unit
Feb. 28, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
unit
sqft
Mar. 31, 2015
May 08, 2015
apartment
May 04, 2015
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Acquisitions of real estate $ 199,190,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate $ 33,825,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate            
Borrowings under debt agreements 756,562,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt 233,780,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt            
Repayment of debt 536,830,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt 312,585,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt            
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock 174,592,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock 157,596,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock            
Sale of common stock 184,158,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues              
Common Stock [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Sale of common stock (in shares) 822,071us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
             
Average share price (in dollars per share) $ 225.51ess_AverageSharePrice
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
             
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock 184,200,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
             
Pinnacle South Mountain [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Number of units sold     552ess_NumberOfUnitsSold
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_PinnacleSouthMountainMember
         
Sales of real estate     63,800,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_PinnacleSouthMountainMember
         
Gain on sale of property     4,700,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_PinnacleSouthMountainMember
         
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Folsom 500 [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Acquisitions of real estate       43,600,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_Folsom500Member
       
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Eighth And Hope [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Acquisitions of real estate       200,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_EighthAndHopeMember
       
Area of real estate property       4,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_EighthAndHopeMember
       
Number of units acquired       290ess_NumberOfUnitsAcquired
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_EighthAndHopeMember
       
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Station Park Green [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Acquisitions of real estate         67,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_StationParkGreenMember
     
Number of units to be developed 599ess_NumberOfUnitsToBeDeveloped
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_StationParkGreenMember
      599ess_NumberOfUnitsToBeDeveloped
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_StationParkGreenMember
599ess_NumberOfUnitsToBeDeveloped
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_StationParkGreenMember
   
Area of real estate property 35,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_StationParkGreenMember
      35,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_StationParkGreenMember
35,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_StationParkGreenMember
   
Equity Method Investments [Member] | The Huxley And The Dylan [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Additional interest acquired         50.00%ess_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageByPartnersIncreaseDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_TheHuxleyAndTheDylanMember
     
Cash consideration for BRE merger         100,100,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_TheHuxleyAndTheDylanMember
     
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment           21,400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationStepAcquisitionEquityInterestInAcquireeRemeasurementGain
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_TheHuxleyAndTheDylanMember
   
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Wesco I Reveal [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Number of units acquired             438ess_NumberOfUnitsAcquired
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_WescoIRevealMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Cash consideration for BRE merger             73,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_WescoIRevealMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Percentage of voting interests acquired             49.50%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_WescoIRevealMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
 
Equity Method Investments [Member] | San Francisco, CA [Member] | Folsom 500 [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Number of floors to be developed       42ess_RealEstateNumberOfFloorsToBeDeveloped
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_Folsom500Member
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= ess_SanFranciscoCAMember
       
Number of units to be developed       545ess_NumberOfUnitsToBeDeveloped
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_Folsom500Member
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= ess_SanFranciscoCAMember
       
Area of real estate property       5,900us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_Folsom500Member
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= ess_SanFranciscoCAMember
       
Ownership percentage (in hundredths) 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_Folsom500Member
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= ess_SanFranciscoCAMember
      50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_Folsom500Member
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= ess_SanFranciscoCAMember
50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= ess_Folsom500Member
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= ess_SanFranciscoCAMember
   
Unsecured Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured Notes Maturing April 1, 2025 [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Borrowings under debt agreements         500,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ess_SeniorUnsecuredNotesMaturingApril12025Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
     
Interest rate, stated percentage 3.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ess_SeniorUnsecuredNotesMaturingApril12025Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
      3.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ess_SeniorUnsecuredNotesMaturingApril12025Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
3.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ess_SeniorUnsecuredNotesMaturingApril12025Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
   
Unsecured Line of Credit [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Repayment of debt         1,000,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ess_UnsecuredLineOfCreditMember
     
Line of Credit Working Capital [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Repayment of debt         25,000,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ess_LineOfCreditWorkingCapitalMember
     
Common Stock [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Sale of common stock (in shares) 822,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
             
Common Stock [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]                
Acquisitions [Abstract]                
Sale of common stock (in shares)               34,125us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Sale of common stock               $ 7,800,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Shares issued, price per share               $ 229.50ess_SaleofStockAverageSalesPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember