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

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Net Income Per Share and Net Income Per Unit [Line Items]

Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Unit

Basic and diluted income per share is calculated as follows for the years ended December 31 ($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

	2018				2017				2016
	Income	Weighted- average Common Shares	Per Common Share Amount		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	390,153	66,041,058	$	5.91	433,059	65,829,155	$	6.58	411,124	65,471,540	$	6.28
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Stock options	—	44,031			—	69,100			—	116,276
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	390,153	66,085,089	$	5.90	433,059	65,898,255	$	6.57	411,124	65,587,816	$	6.27

Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]

Net Income Per Share and Net Income Per Unit [Line Items]

Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Unit

Basic and diluted income per unit is calculated as follows for the years ended December 31 ($ in thousands, except unit and per unit amounts):

	2018					2017					2016
	Income		Weighted- average Common Units	Per Common Unit Amount		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	$	403,605	68,315,999	$	5.91	$	447,884	68,081,730	$	6.58	$	425,213	67,695,640	$	6.28
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Stock options	—		44,031			—		69,100			—		116,276
Diluted:
Net income available to common unitholders	$	403,605	68,360,030	$	5.90	$	447,884	68,150,830	$	6.57	$	425,213	67,811,916	$	6.27