Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 336,766	$ 319,562	$ 669,934	$ 631,740
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,296	2,028	4,532	4,052
Total revenues	339,062	321,590	674,466	635,792
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	63,381	61,538	127,026	121,609
Real estate taxes	34,884	34,541	70,752	68,960
Depreciation and amortization	117,939	109,673	233,442	219,380
General and administrative	10,337	9,698	20,938	18,880
Acquisition and investment related costs	274	267	830	1,095
Total expenses	226,815	215,717	452,988	429,924
Earnings from operations	112,247	105,873	221,478	205,868
Interest expense	(56,812)	(55,568)	(111,395)	(108,034)
Total return swap income	2,531	2,814	5,115	5,937
Interest and other income	5,362	9,409	12,126	14,617
Equity income from co-investments	10,308	14,296	21,207	29,364
Gain on sale of real estate and land	0	0	26,174	20,258
Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land	0	0	0	(4,279)
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	2,159	0	88,641	0
Net income	75,795	76,824	263,346	163,731
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,036)	(4,811)	(13,623)	(9,882)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	70,759	72,013	249,723	153,849
Dividends to preferred stockholders	0	0	0	(1,314)
Excess of redemption value of preferred stock over the carrying value	0	0	0	(2,541)
Net income available to common stockholders	70,759	72,013	249,723	149,994
Comprehensive income	77,468	78,005	267,232	162,701
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,091)	(4,850)	(13,752)	(9,848)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$ 72,377	$ 73,155	$ 253,480	$ 152,853
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 1.10	$ 3.80	$ 2.29
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	65,729,074	65,451,110	65,639,775	65,428,382
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 1.10	$ 3.80	$ 2.29
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	65,819,694	65,575,378	65,942,018	65,558,811
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.75	$ 1.60	$ 3.5	$ 3.2
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 336,766	$ 319,562	$ 669,934	$ 631,740
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,296	2,028	4,532	4,052
Total revenues	339,062	321,590	674,466	635,792
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	63,381	61,538	127,026	121,609
Real estate taxes	34,884	34,541	70,752	68,960
Depreciation and amortization	117,939	109,673	233,442	219,380
General and administrative	10,337	9,698	20,938	18,880
Acquisition and investment related costs	274	267	830	1,095
Total expenses	226,815	215,717	452,988	429,924
Earnings from operations	112,247	105,873	221,478	205,868
Interest expense	(56,812)	(55,568)	(111,395)	(108,034)
Total return swap income	2,531	2,814	5,115	5,937
Interest and other income	5,362	9,409	12,126	14,617
Equity income from co-investments	10,308	14,296	21,207	29,364
Gain on sale of real estate and land	0	0	26,174	20,258
Deferred tax expense on gain on sale of real estate and land	0	0	0	(4,279)
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	2,159	0	88,641	0
Net income	75,795	76,824	263,346	163,731
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,614)	(2,361)	(5,055)	(4,648)
Net income attributable to controlling interest	73,181	74,463	258,291	159,083
Dividends to preferred stockholders	0	0	0	(1,314)
Excess of redemption value of preferred stock over the carrying value	0	0	0	(2,541)
Net income available to common stockholders	73,181	74,463	258,291	155,228
Comprehensive income	77,468	78,005	267,232	162,701
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,614)	(2,361)	(5,055)	(4,648)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$ 74,854	$ 75,644	$ 262,177	$ 158,053
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 1.10	$ 3.80	$ 2.29
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	67,980,761	67,675,038	67,891,734	67,654,279
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 1.10	$ 3.80	$ 2.29
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	68,071,381	67,799,306	68,193,977	67,784,708
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.75	$ 1.60	$ 3.5	$ 3.2