Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,719,064	$ 2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,629,767	10,116,563
Total Rental Properties	13,348,831	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,769,297)	(2,311,546)
Net Real Estate	10,579,534	10,364,760
Real estate under development	355,735	190,505
Co-investments	1,155,984	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	0	101,957
Total Real Estate	12,091,253	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	44,620	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,506	105,381
Marketable securities	190,004	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $41.2 million and $11.3 million as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	100,926	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	52,397	48,450
Total assets	12,495,706	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured debt, net	3,501,709	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,008,417	2,191,481
Lines of credit	179,000	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	127,501	138,226
Construction payable	51,770	35,909
Dividends payable	121,420	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	36,726	0
Other liabilities	33,132	32,922
Total liabilities	6,059,675	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	39,206	44,684
Equity:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 66,054,399 and 65,527,993 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	7	6
Additional paid-in capital	7,129,571	7,029,679
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(833,726)	(805,409)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(18,446)	(32,098)
Total stockholders' equity	6,277,406	6,192,178
Noncontrolling interest	119,419	100,059
Total equity	6,396,825	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,495,706	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,719,064	2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,629,767	10,116,563
Total Rental Properties	13,348,831	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,769,297)	(2,311,546)
Net Real Estate	10,579,534	10,364,760
Real estate under development	355,735	190,505
Co-investments	1,155,984	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	0	101,957
Total Real Estate	12,091,253	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	44,620	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,506	105,381
Marketable securities	190,004	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $41.2 million and $11.3 million as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	100,926	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	52,397	48,450
Total assets	12,495,706	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured debt, net	3,501,709	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,008,417	2,191,481
Lines of credit	179,000	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	127,501	138,226
Construction payable	51,770	35,909
Distributions payable	121,420	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	36,726	0
Other liabilities	33,132	32,922
Total liabilities	6,059,675	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	39,206	44,684
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,268,114 and 2,237,290 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	49,792	49,436
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(15,229)	(29,348)
Total partners' capital	6,330,415	6,244,364
Noncontrolling interest	66,410	47,873
Total capital	6,396,825	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,495,706	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (66,054,399 and 65,527,993 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,295,852	6,224,276
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (66,054,399 and 65,527,993 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,295,852	6,224,276
Limited Partners:
Total capital	$ 6,295,852	$ 6,224,276