Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Common Unit (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Net Income Per Share and Net Income Per Unit [Line Items]

Schedule of net income per common share

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016					Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
	Income		Weighted- average Common Shares	Per Common Share Amount		Income		Weighted- average Common Shares	Per Common Share Amount
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	77,981	65,405,654	$	1.19	$	59,363	64,185,455	$	0.92
Effect of Dilutive Securities	—		151,985			—		209,225
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	77,981	65,557,639	$	1.19	$	59,363	64,394,680	$	0.92

Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]

Net Income Per Share and Net Income Per Unit [Line Items]

Schedule of net income per common share

Essex Portfolio, L.P.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2016					Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
	Income		Weighted- average Common Units	Per Common Unit Amount		Income		Weighted- average Common Units	Per Common Unit Amount
Basic:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	80,765	67,633,519	$	1.19	$	61,426	66,369,769	$	0.93
Effect of Dilutive Securities	—		151,985			—		209,225
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	80,765	67,785,504	$	1.19	$	61,426	66,578,994	$	0.92