Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,701,356	$ 2,719,064
Buildings and improvements	10,664,745	10,643,009
Total Rental Properties	13,366,101	13,362,073
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,209,548)	(2,769,297)
Net Real Estate	10,156,553	10,592,776
Real estate under development	454,629	355,735
Co-investments	1,300,140	1,155,984
Total Real Estate	11,911,322	12,104,495
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	134,465	44,620
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,930	16,506
Marketable securities	209,545	190,004
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $11.1 million and $41.2 million as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)	71,895	100,926
Prepaid expenses and other assets	39,439	39,155
Total assets	12,383,596	12,495,706
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured debt, net	3,799,316	3,501,709
Mortgage notes payable, net	1,806,626	2,008,417
Lines of credit	0	179,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	127,086	127,501
Construction payable	59,345	51,770
Dividends payable	128,529	121,420
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	0	36,726
Other liabilities	33,375	33,132
Total liabilities	5,954,277	6,059,675
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	35,475	39,206
Equity:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 65,890,322 and 66,054,399 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	7	7
Additional paid-in capital	7,093,079	7,129,571
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(812,796)	(833,726)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(13,217)	(18,446)
Total stockholders' equity	6,267,073	6,277,406
Noncontrolling interest	126,771	119,419
Total equity	6,393,844	6,396,825
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,383,596	12,495,706
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,701,356	2,719,064
Buildings and improvements	10,664,745	10,643,009
Total Rental Properties	13,366,101	13,362,073
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,209,548)	(2,769,297)
Net Real Estate	10,156,553	10,592,776
Real estate under development	454,629	355,735
Co-investments	1,300,140	1,155,984
Total Real Estate	11,911,322	12,104,495
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	134,465	44,620
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,930	16,506
Marketable securities	209,545	190,004
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $11.1 million and $41.2 million as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)	71,895	100,926
Prepaid expenses and other assets	39,439	39,155
Total assets	12,383,596	12,495,706
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured debt, net	3,799,316	3,501,709
Mortgage notes payable, net	1,806,626	2,008,417
Lines of credit	0	179,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	127,086	127,501
Construction payable	59,345	51,770
Dividends payable	128,529	121,420
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	0	36,726
Other liabilities	33,375	33,132
Total liabilities	5,954,277	6,059,675
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	35,475	39,206
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,305,389 and 2,268,114 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	59,061	49,792
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(9,738)	(15,229)
Total partners' capital	6,329,613	6,330,415
Noncontrolling interest	64,231	66,410
Total capital	6,393,844	6,396,825
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,383,596	12,495,706
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (65,890,322 and 66,054,399 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,280,290	6,295,852
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (65,890,322 and 66,054,399 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,280,290	6,295,852
Limited Partners:
Total capital	$ 6,280,290	$ 6,295,852