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

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

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, 2017					Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
	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	$	178,964	65,549,484	$	2.73	$	77,981	65,405,654	$	1.19
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		96,778			—		151,985
DownREIT units	373		213,228			—		—
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	179,337	65,859,490	$	2.72	$	77,981	65,557,639	$	1.19

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, 2017					Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
	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	$	185,110	67,801,718	$	2.73	$	80,765	67,633,519	$	1.19
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		96,778			—		151,985
DownREIT units	373		213,228			—		—
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	185,483	68,111,724	$	2.72	$	80,765	67,785,504	$	1.19