Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 280,229	$ 159,349
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,644	1,660
Total revenues	282,873	161,009
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	55,618	36,967
Real estate taxes	31,553	15,339
Depreciation and amortization	106,907	50,312
General and administrative	10,545	7,583
Merger and integration expenses	2,388	16,059
Acquisition costs	547	188
Total expenses	207,558	126,448
Earnings from operations	75,315	34,561
Interest expense	(47,546)	(29,041)
Interest and other income	4,199	2,879
Equity income in co-investments	4,311	10,526
Gains on sale of real estate and land	7,112	7,481
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	21,362	0
Net income	64,753	26,406
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(4,076)	(3,126)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	60,677	23,280
Dividends to preferred stockholders	(1,314)	(1,368)
Net income available to common stockholders	59,363	21,912
Comprehensive income	65,352	30,729
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(4,091)	(3,372)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	61,261	27,357
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 0.58
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	64,185,455	37,685,073
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 0.58
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	64,394,680	37,931,454
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 1.21
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property	280,229	159,349
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,644	1,660
Total revenues	282,873	161,009
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	55,618	36,967
Real estate taxes	31,553	15,339
Depreciation and amortization	106,907	50,312
General and administrative	10,545	7,583
Merger and integration expenses	2,388	16,059
Acquisition costs	547	188
Total expenses	207,558	126,448
Earnings from operations	75,315	34,561
Interest expense	(47,546)	(29,041)
Interest and other income	4,199	2,879
Equity income in co-investments	4,311	10,526
Gains on sale of real estate and land	7,112	7,481
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	21,362	0
Net income	64,753	26,406
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,965)	(1,709)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	62,788	24,697
Dividends to preferred stockholders	(1,314)	(1,368)
Net income available to common stockholders	61,474	23,329
Comprehensive income	65,352	30,729
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,965)	(1,709)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$ 63,387	$ 29,020
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.58
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	66,369,769	39,957,252
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 0.58
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	66,578,994	40,203,633
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 1.21