Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 21, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ESSEX PROPERTY TRUST INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000920522
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		65,549,470
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 14,824,768,853
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ESSEX PORTFOLIO LP
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes