Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 302,522	$ 268,512	$ 876,852	$ 684,813
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,104	2,361	6,809	6,856
Total revenues	304,626	270,873	883,661	691,669
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	60,528	56,294	173,547	146,474
Real estate taxes	33,591	31,768	97,820	77,452
Depreciation and amortization	116,308	102,286	336,946	253,890
General and administrative	11,129	11,479	31,223	28,621
Merger and integration expenses	0	3,857	3,798	46,413
Acquisition and investment related costs	381	51	1,357	768
Total expenses	221,937	205,735	644,691	553,618
Earnings from operations	82,689	65,138	238,970	138,051
Interest expense	(50,053)	(45,830)	(148,401)	(117,021)
Interest and other income	7,367	2,992	14,820	8,685
Equity income in co-investments	7,179	4,910	15,962	21,065
Gains on sale of real estate and land	0	31,372	7,112	38,853
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	0	34,014	0
Net income	47,182	58,582	162,477	89,633
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,545)	(3,720)	(11,295)	(8,971)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	43,637	54,862	151,182	80,662
Dividends to preferred stockholders	(1,314)	(1,296)	(3,941)	(3,977)
Net income available to common stockholders	42,323	53,566	147,241	76,685
Comprehensive income	46,970	61,036	163,609	99,070
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,538)	(3,789)	(11,332)	(9,345)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$ 43,432	$ 57,247	$ 152,277	$ 89,725
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.85	$ 2.28	$ 1.41
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	65,138,868	62,892,601	64,714,994	54,250,104
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.85	$ 2.27	$ 1.41
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	65,297,550	63,069,772	64,892,770	54,443,227
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 1.30	$ 4.32	$ 3.81
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 302,522	$ 268,512	$ 876,852	$ 684,813
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,104	2,361	6,809	6,856
Total revenues	304,626	270,873	883,661	691,669
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	60,528	56,294	173,547	146,474
Real estate taxes	33,591	31,768	97,820	77,452
Depreciation and amortization	116,308	102,286	336,946	253,890
General and administrative	11,129	11,479	31,223	28,621
Merger and integration expenses	0	3,857	3,798	46,413
Acquisition and investment related costs	381	51	1,357	768
Total expenses	221,937	205,735	644,691	553,618
Earnings from operations	82,689	65,138	238,970	138,051
Interest expense	(50,053)	(45,830)	(148,401)	(117,021)
Interest and other income	7,367	2,992	14,820	8,685
Equity income in co-investments	7,179	4,910	15,962	21,065
Gains on sale of real estate and land	0	31,372	7,112	38,853
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	0	34,014	0
Net income	47,182	58,582	162,477	89,633
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,074)	(1,904)	(6,180)	(5,529)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	45,108	56,678	156,297	84,104
Dividends to preferred stockholders	(1,314)	(1,296)	(3,941)	(3,977)
Net income available to common stockholders	43,794	55,382	152,356	80,127
Comprehensive income	46,970	61,036	163,609	99,070
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,074)	(1,904)	(6,180)	(5,529)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$ 44,896	$ 59,132	$ 157,429	$ 93,541
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.85	$ 2.28	$ 1.42
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	67,316,498	65,057,157	66,896,293	56,484,589
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.85	$ 2.27	$ 1.41
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	67,475,180	65,234,328	67,074,069	56,677,712
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 1.30	$ 4.32	$ 3.81