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

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 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 September 30, 2016					Three Months Ended September 30, 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	$	65,561	65,507,669	$	1.00	$	42,323	65,138,868	$	0.65
Effect of Dilutive Securities	—		109,882			—		158,682
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	65,561	65,617,551	$	1.00	$	42,323	65,297,550	$	0.65

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016					Nine Months Ended September 30, 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	$	215,555	65,455,004	$	3.29	$	147,241	64,714,994	$	2.28
Effect of Dilutive Securities	—		123,657			—		177,776
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	215,555	65,578,661	$	3.29	$	147,241	64,892,770	$	2.27

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 September 30, 2016					Three Months Ended September 30, 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	$	67,784	67,728,621	$	1.00	$	43,794	67,316,498	$	0.65
Effect of Dilutive Securities	—		109,882			—		158,682
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	67,784	67,838,503	$	1.00	$	43,794	67,475,180	$	0.65

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016					Nine Months Ended September 30, 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	$	223,012	67,679,240	$	3.30	$	152,356	66,896,293	$	2.28
Effect of Dilutive Securities	—		123,657			—		177,776
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	223,012	67,802,897	$	3.29	$	152,356	67,074,069	$	2.27