Condensed Consolidated Statement of Capital shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 187,551
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities	(1,605)
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	3,639
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net	179
Issuance of common stock under:
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	(65)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(731)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	22,506
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(5,926)
Redemptions	(1,070)
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance at period beginning	6,292,237
Net income	187,551
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities	(1,605)
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	3,639
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net	179
Issuance of common stock under:
General partner's stock based compensation, net	5,794
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	(65)
Equity based compensation costs	1,253
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(731)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	22,506
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(1,932)
Redemptions	(1,070)
Distributions declared	(118,753)
Balance at period end	6,389,003
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance at period beginning	(29,348)
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities	(1,605)
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	3,639
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net	179
Issuance of common stock under:
Balance at period end	(27,135)
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance at period beginning	47,873
Net income	2,441
Issuance of common stock under:
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(226)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	22,506
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(1,932)
Balance at period end	70,662
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance at period beginning	$ 6,224,276
Balance at period beginning (in shares) | shares	65,528
Net income	$ 178,964
Issuance of common stock under:
General partner's stock based compensation, net	$ 5,794
General partner's stock based compensation, net (in shares) | shares	41
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	$ (65)
Equity based compensation costs	1,110
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(505)
Redemptions	$ (835)
Redemptions (in shares) | shares	1
Distributions declared	$ (114,759)
Balance at period end	$ 6,293,980
Balance at period end (in shares) | shares	65,570
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance at period beginning	$ 49,436
Balance at period beginning (in shares) | shares	2,237
Net income	$ 6,146
Issuance of common stock under:
Equity based compensation costs	$ 143
Equity based compensation costs (in shares) | shares	16
Redemptions	$ (235)
Redemptions (in shares) | shares	(1)
Distributions declared	$ (3,994)
Balance at period end	$ 51,496
Balance at period end (in shares) | shares	2,252