Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,944,521,000	$ 2,773,805,000
Buildings and improvements	12,184,957,000	11,264,337,000
Total rental properties	15,129,478,000	14,038,142,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(4,043,496,000)	(3,689,482,000)
Net real estate	11,085,982,000	10,348,660,000
Real estate under development	364,875,000	546,075,000
Co-investments	1,018,235,000	1,335,339,000
Real estate held for sale, net	32,878,000	0
Total real estate	12,501,970,000	12,230,074,000
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	558,446,000	70,087,000
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	10,629,000	11,007,000
Marketable securities, net of allowance for credit losses of $13.6 million and zero as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively	134,971,000	144,193,000
Notes and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $0.2 million and zero as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively (includes related party receivables of $5.5 million and $90.2 million as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	75,432,000	134,365,000
Operating lease right-of-use assets	72,910,000	74,744,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	46,684,000	40,935,000
Total assets	13,401,042,000	12,705,405,000
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	5,907,805,000	4,763,206,000
Mortgage notes payable, net	702,379,000	990,667,000
Lines of credit	0	55,000,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	205,520,000	158,017,000
Construction payable	30,292,000	48,912,000
Dividends payable	142,365,000	135,384,000
Operating lease liabilities	74,844,000	76,740,000
Other liabilities	39,636,000	36,565,000
Total liabilities	7,102,841,000	6,264,491,000
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	30,719,000	37,410,000
Equity/Capital:
Common stock; $.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 65,209,946 and 66,091,954 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	7,000	7,000
Additional paid-in capital	6,921,631,000	7,121,927,000
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(821,841,000)	(887,619,000)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(16,800,000)	(13,888,000)
Total stockholders' equity	6,082,997,000	6,220,427,000
Noncontrolling interest	184,485,000	183,077,000
Total equity	6,267,482,000	6,403,504,000
Total liabilities and equity	13,401,042,000	12,705,405,000
Marketable securities, allowance for credit loss	13,644,000	0
Notes and other receivables, allowance for credit loss	172,000	0
Related party receivables	$ 5,500,000	$ 90,200,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	670,000,000	670,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	65,209,946	66,091,954
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	65,209,946	66,091,954
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,944,521,000	$ 2,773,805,000
Buildings and improvements	12,184,957,000	11,264,337,000
Total rental properties	15,129,478,000	14,038,142,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(4,043,496,000)	(3,689,482,000)
Net real estate	11,085,982,000	10,348,660,000
Real estate under development	364,875,000	546,075,000
Co-investments	1,018,235,000	1,335,339,000
Total real estate	12,501,970,000	12,230,074,000
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	558,446,000	70,087,000
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	10,629,000	11,007,000
Marketable securities, net of allowance for credit losses of $13.6 million and zero as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively	134,971,000	144,193,000
Notes and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $0.2 million and zero as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively (includes related party receivables of $5.5 million and $90.2 million as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	75,432,000	134,365,000
Operating lease right-of-use assets	72,910,000	74,744,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	46,684,000	40,935,000
Total assets	13,401,042,000	12,705,405,000
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	5,907,805,000	4,763,206,000
Mortgage notes payable, net	702,379,000	990,667,000
Lines of credit	0	55,000,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	205,520,000	158,017,000
Construction payable	30,292,000	48,912,000
Dividends payable	142,365,000	135,384,000
Operating lease liabilities	74,844,000	76,740,000
Other liabilities	39,636,000	36,565,000
Total liabilities	7,102,841,000	6,264,491,000
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	30,719,000	37,410,000
General Partner:
Common equity (65,209,946 and 66,091,954 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,099,797,000	6,234,315,000
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,295,510 and 2,301,653 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	59,441,000	57,359,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(13,447,000)	(10,432,000)
Total partners' capital	6,145,791,000	6,281,242,000
Noncontrolling interest	121,691,000	122,262,000
Total capital	6,267,482,000	6,403,504,000
Total liabilities and equity	13,401,042,000	12,705,405,000
Marketable securities, allowance for credit loss	13,600,000	0
Notes and other receivables, allowance for credit loss	200,000	0
Related party receivables	$ 5,500,000	$ 90,200,000
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | General Partner
Limited Partners:
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	65,209,946	66,091,954
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	65,209,946	66,091,954
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Limited Partners
Limited Partners:
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	2,295,510	2,301,653
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,295,510	2,301,653
Subsidiaries
Rental properties:
Real estate held for sale, net	$ 32,878,000	$ 0