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

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 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 September 30, 2017					Three Months Ended September 30, 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	$	79,723	65,994,896	$	1.21	$	65,561	65,507,669	$	1.00
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		83,387			—		109,882
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	79,723	66,078,283	$	1.21	$	65,561	65,617,551	$	1.00

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017					Nine Months Ended September 30, 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	$	329,446	65,759,450	$	5.01	$	215,555	65,455,004	$	3.29
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		77,515			—		123,657
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	329,446	65,836,965	$	5.00	$	215,555	65,578,661	$	3.29

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, 2017					Three Months Ended September 30, 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	$	82,444	68,246,008	$	1.21	$	67,784	67,728,621	$	1.00
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		83,387			—		109,882
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	82,444	68,329,395	$	1.21	$	67,784	67,838,503	$	1.00

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017					Nine Months Ended September 30, 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	$	340,735	68,011,123	$	5.01	$	223,012	67,679,240	$	3.30
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		77,515			—		123,657
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	340,735	68,088,638	$	5.00	$	223,012	67,802,897	$	3.29