Real Estate Operations, Occupancy Threshold For Classification As Stabilized

No definition available.

Name:	ess_RealEstateOperationsOccupancyThresholdForClassificationAsStabilized
Namespace Prefix:	ess_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130532-203044

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130549-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130549-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, including tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value-added and excise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130539-203045

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130545-203045

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130543-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerIncludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of transaction price allocated to performance obligation that has not been recognized as revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130556-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ess_RentalIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ess_OtherPropertyIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ess_ManagementAndOtherFeesFromAffiliatesIncomeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=ess_RentalAndOtherPropertyRevenuesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=ess_RealEstatePropertySamePropertyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=ess_RealEstatePropertyAcquiredMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=ess_RealEstatePropertyDevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=ess_RealEstatePropertyRedevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis=ess_RealEstatePropertyNonResidentialOtherNetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ess_SouthernCaliforniaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ess_NorthernCaliforniaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ess_SeattleMetroMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 356,223	$ 347,255
Occupancy threshold for classification as stabilized	95.00%
Deferred revenue	$ 5,500		$ 6,200
Deferred revenue, revenue recognized	700
Deferred revenue balance from contracts with remaining performance obligations	5,500
Rental [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	347,805	339,015
Other Property Leasing Revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	6,083	5,932
Management and Other Fees From Affiliates Income [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,335	2,308
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	353,888	344,947
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Same Property [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	337,352	327,267
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Acquisitions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,271	0
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Development [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,133	19
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Redevelopment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	5,212	5,024
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Non-Residential/Other, Net [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	7,920	12,637
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Southern California [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	151,024	146,558
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Northern California [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	136,325	128,622
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member] \| Seattle Metro [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	60,240	58,713
Rental and Other Property Revenues [Member] \| Other real estate assets [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 6,299	$ 11,054