Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 368,149	$ 359,375	$ 757,899	$ 713,263
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,348	2,260	4,965	4,595
Revenues	370,497	361,635	762,864	717,858
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	65,142	58,905	129,273	117,527
Real estate taxes	44,994	36,285	88,006	75,703
Corporate-level property management expenses	8,646	8,469	17,405	16,898
Depreciation and amortization	133,609	119,465	265,168	240,033
General and administrative	14,952	13,927	28,934	27,386
Expensed acquisition and investment related costs	15	24	102	56
Total expenses	267,358	237,075	528,888	477,603
Gain on sale of real estate and land	16,597	0	16,597	0
Earnings from operations	119,736	124,560	250,573	240,255
Interest expense	(54,447)	(54,112)	(109,594)	(107,755)
Total return swap income	2,788	1,975	4,772	4,020
Interest and other income	11,405	8,347	6,184	20,608
Equity income from co-investments	17,257	16,959	38,554	33,235
Deferred tax expense on unrealized gain on unconsolidated co-investment	1,636	0	1,636	0
(Loss) gain on early retirement of debt, net	(5,027)	332	(4,706)	1,668
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	0	234,694	31,535
Net income	90,076	98,061	418,841	223,566
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,618)	(5,786)	(19,377)	(12,433)
Net income available to common stockholders	84,458	92,275	399,464	211,133
Comprehensive income	94,172	93,740	413,850	217,408
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,756)	(5,640)	(19,208)	(12,225)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$ 88,416	$ 88,100	$ 394,642	$ 205,183
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 1.40	$ 6.08	$ 3.21
Weighted average number of shares/common units outstanding during the period (in shares)	65,412,407	65,718,806	65,728,119	65,710,842
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 1.40	$ 6.07	$ 3.21
Weighted average number of shares/common units outstanding during the period (in shares)	65,427,935	65,821,815	65,855,347	65,802,417
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Revenues:
Rental and other property	$ 368,149	$ 359,375	$ 757,899	$ 713,263
Management and other fees from affiliates	2,348	2,260	4,965	4,595
Revenues	370,497	361,635	762,864	717,858
Expenses:
Property operating, excluding real estate taxes	65,142	58,905	129,273	117,527
Real estate taxes	44,994	36,285	88,006	75,703
Corporate-level property management expenses	8,646	8,469	17,405	16,898
Depreciation and amortization	133,609	119,465	265,168	240,033
General and administrative	14,952	13,927	28,934	27,386
Expensed acquisition and investment related costs	15	24	102	56
Total expenses	267,358	237,075	528,888	477,603
Gain on sale of real estate and land	16,597	0	16,597	0
Earnings from operations	119,736	124,560	250,573	240,255
Interest expense	(54,447)	(54,112)	(109,594)	(107,755)
Total return swap income	2,788	1,975	4,772	4,020
Interest and other income	11,405	8,347	6,184	20,608
Equity income from co-investments	17,257	16,959	38,554	33,235
Deferred tax expense on unrealized gain on unconsolidated co-investment	1,636	0	1,636	0
(Loss) gain on early retirement of debt, net	(5,027)	332	(4,706)	1,668
Gain on remeasurement of co-investment	0	0	234,694	31,535
Net income	90,076	98,061	418,841	223,566
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,654)	(2,558)	(5,427)	(5,034)
Net income available to common stockholders	87,422	95,503	413,414	218,532
Comprehensive income	94,172	93,740	413,850	217,408
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,654)	(2,558)	(5,427)	(5,034)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$ 91,518	$ 91,182	$ 408,423	$ 212,374
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 1.40	$ 6.08	$ 3.21
Weighted average number of shares/common units outstanding during the period (in shares)	67,708,157	68,018,090	68,026,084	68,012,999
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 1.40	$ 6.07	$ 3.21
Weighted average number of shares/common units outstanding during the period (in shares)	67,723,685	68,121,099	68,153,312	68,104,574