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

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

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, 2018					Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
	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	$	90,918	66,044,022	$	1.38	$	178,964	65,549,484	$	2.73
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		38,495			—		96,778
DownREIT units	—		—			373		213,228
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	90,918	66,082,517	$	1.38	$	179,337	65,859,490	$	2.72

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, 2018					Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
	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	$	94,050	68,317,435	$	1.38	$	185,110	67,801,718	$	2.73
Effect of Dilutive Securities:
Stock options	—		38,495			—		96,778
DownREIT units	—		—			373		213,228
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	94,050	68,355,930	$	1.38	$	185,483	68,111,724	$	2.72