Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 1,450,628	$ 1,390,870	$ 1,354,325
Total revenues	1,460,155	1,400,053	1,363,899
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	242,525	233,764	229,076
Real estate taxes	155,170	151,570	146,310
Corporate-level property management expenses	32,899	31,062	30,156
Depreciation and amortization	483,750	479,884	468,881
General and administrative	54,262	53,451	41,385
Expensed acquisition and investment related costs	168	194	1,569
Impairment loss	7,105	0	0
Total expenses	975,879	949,925	917,377
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and land	(3,164)	61,861	26,423
Earnings from operations	481,112	511,989	472,945
Interest expense	(217,339)	(220,492)	(222,894)
Total return swap income	8,446	8,707	10,098
Interest and other income	46,298	23,010	24,604
Equity income from co-investments	112,136	89,132	86,445
Deferred tax expense on unrealized gain on unconsolidated co-investment	(1,457)	0	0
Gain (loss) on early retirement of debt, net	3,717	0	(1,796)
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	31,535	1,253	88,641
Net income	464,448	413,599	458,043
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(25,162)	(23,446)	(24,984)
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 439,286	$ 390,153	$ 433,059
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.67	$ 5.91	$ 6.58
Weighted average number of shares/units outstanding during the year (in shares)	65,840,422	66,041,058	65,829,155
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.66	$ 5.90	$ 6.57
Weighted average number of shares/units outstanding during the year (in shares)	65,939,455	66,085,089	65,898,255
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 1,450,628	$ 1,390,870	$ 1,354,325
Total revenues	1,460,155	1,400,053	1,363,899
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	242,525	233,764	229,076
Real estate taxes	155,170	151,570	146,310
Corporate-level property management expenses	32,899	31,062	30,156
Depreciation and amortization	483,750	479,884	468,881
General and administrative	54,262	53,451	41,385
Expensed acquisition and investment related costs	168	194	1,569
Impairment loss	7,105	0	0
Total expenses	975,879	949,925	917,377
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and land	(3,164)	61,861	26,423
Earnings from operations	481,112	511,989	472,945
Interest expense	(217,339)	(220,492)	(222,894)
Total return swap income	8,446	8,707	10,098
Interest and other income	46,298	23,010	24,604
Equity income from co-investments	112,136	89,132	86,445
Deferred tax expense on unrealized gain on unconsolidated co-investment	(1,457)	0	0
Gain (loss) on early retirement of debt, net	3,717	0	(1,796)
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	31,535	1,253	88,641
Net income	464,448	413,599	458,043
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(9,819)	(9,994)	(10,159)
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 454,629	$ 403,605	$ 447,884
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.67	$ 5.91	$ 6.58
Weighted average number of shares/units outstanding during the year (in shares)	68,140,900	68,315,999	68,081,730
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.66	$ 5.90	$ 6.57
Weighted average number of shares/units outstanding during the year (in shares)	68,239,933	68,360,030	68,150,830
Management and Other Fees from Affiliates
Revenues:
Management and other fees from affiliates	$ 9,527	$ 9,183	$ 9,574
Management and Other Fees from Affiliates | Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Revenues:
Management and other fees from affiliates	$ 9,527	$ 9,183	$ 9,574