Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,727,878	$ 2,701,356
Buildings and improvements	10,844,322	10,664,745
Total rental properties	13,572,200	13,366,101
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,329,743)	(3,209,548)
Net real estate	10,242,457	10,156,553
Real estate under development	497,794	454,629
Co-investments	1,307,561	1,300,140
Total real estate	12,047,812	11,911,322
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	107,034	134,465
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	17,092	16,930
Marketable securities	211,030	209,545
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $10.5 million and $11.1 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)	71,154	71,895
Operating lease right-of-use assets	76,996	0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	46,883	39,439
Total assets	12,578,001	12,383,596
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	4,293,973	3,799,316
Mortgage notes payable, net	1,441,828	1,806,626
Lines of credit	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	180,571	127,086
Construction payable	60,087	59,345
Dividends/Distributions payable	134,339	128,529
Operating lease liabilities	79,010
Other liabilities	33,829	33,375
Total liabilities	6,223,637	5,954,277
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	37,169	35,475
Equity/Capital:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 65,715,783 and 65,890,322 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	7	7
Additional paid-in capital	7,028,154	7,093,079
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(822,087)	(812,796)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(14,817)	(13,217)
Total stockholders' equity	6,191,257	6,267,073
Noncontrolling interest	125,938	126,771
Total equity	6,317,195	6,393,844
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,578,001	12,383,596
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,727,878	2,701,356
Buildings and improvements	10,844,322	10,664,745
Total rental properties	13,572,200	13,366,101
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,329,743)	(3,209,548)
Net real estate	10,242,457	10,156,553
Real estate under development	497,794	454,629
Co-investments	1,307,561	1,300,140
Total real estate	12,047,812	11,911,322
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	107,034	134,465
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	17,092	16,930
Marketable securities	211,030	209,545
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $10.5 million and $11.1 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)	71,154	71,895
Operating lease right-of-use assets	76,996
Prepaid expenses and other assets	46,883	39,439
Total assets	12,578,001	12,383,596
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	4,293,973	3,799,316
Mortgage notes payable, net	1,441,828	1,806,626
Lines of credit	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	180,571	127,086
Construction payable	60,087	59,345
Dividends/Distributions payable	134,339	128,529
Operating lease liabilities	79,010
Other liabilities	33,829	33,375
Total liabilities	6,223,637	5,954,277
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	37,169	35,475
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,299,379 and 2,305,389 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	58,667	59,061
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(11,394)	(9,738)
Total partners' capital	6,253,347	6,329,613
Noncontrolling interest	63,848	64,231
Total capital	6,317,195	6,393,844
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,578,001	12,383,596
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (65,715,783 and 65,890,322 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,206,074	6,280,290
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (65,715,783 and 65,890,322 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,206,074	6,280,290
Limited Partners:
Total capital	$ 6,206,074	$ 6,280,290