EPLP - Consolidated Statements of Capital - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 515,691	$ 599,332	$ 464,448
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities	0	0	(32)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	0	3,338	1,824
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	9,170	(4,148)	(2,948)
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net	329	(61)	281
Issuance of common stock under:
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	(455)	(296)	72,539
Retirement of common stock, net	(9,172)	(269,315)	$ (56,989)
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]			Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]	Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 [Member]
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(6,890)	4,299	$ (2,008)
Changes in noncontrolling interest from acquisition		1,349	65,472
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(29,341)	(31,367)	(28,493)
Redemptions	(8,457)	(3,113)	(36,568)
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	6,183,192	6,403,504	6,393,844
Net income	515,691	599,332	464,448
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities	0	0	(32)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	0	3,338	1,824
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	9,170	(4,148)	(2,948)
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net	329	(61)	281
Issuance of common stock under:
General partner's stock based compensation, net	53,052	9,201	33,779
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	(455)	(296)	72,539
Equity based compensation costs	11,683	12,913	12,283
Retirement of common stock, net	(9,172)	(269,315)	(56,989)
Cumulative effect upon adoption	6,176,508	6,183,192	6,403,504	$ 6,393,844
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(6,890)	4,299	(2,008)
Changes in noncontrolling interest from acquisition		1,349	65,472
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(10,215)	(12,292)	(10,521)
Redemptions	(8,457)	(3,113)	(36,568)
Distributions declared	(563,320)	(561,329)	(532,081)
Balances	6,176,508	6,183,192	6,403,504	6,393,844
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances		(190)	181
Issuance of common stock under:
Cumulative effect upon adoption			(190)	181
Balances			(190)	181
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	(11,303)	(10,432)	(9,738)
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities			(32)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings		3,338	1,824
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	9,170	(4,148)	(2,948)
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net	329	(61)	281
Issuance of common stock under:
Cumulative effect upon adoption	(1,804)	(11,303)	(10,432)	(9,738)
Balances	(1,804)	(11,303)	(10,432)	(9,738)
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances			181
Issuance of common stock under:
Cumulative effect upon adoption				181
Balances				181
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Noncontrolling interest
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	121,172	122,262	64,231
Net income	9,946	10,550	9,819
Issuance of common stock under:
Cumulative effect upon adoption	122,655	121,172	122,262	64,231
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	447	121	1,310
Changes in noncontrolling interest from acquisition		1,349	65,472
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(10,215)	(12,292)	(10,521)
Redemptions	(595)	(818)	(8,049)
Balances	122,655	121,172	122,262	64,231
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | General Partner | Common Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	$ 6,015,139	$ 6,234,315	$ 6,280,290
Balances (in shares)	64,999	66,092	65,890
Net income	$ 488,554	$ 568,870	$ 439,286
Issuance of common stock under:
General partner's stock based compensation, net	$ 53,052	$ 9,201	$ 33,779
General partner's stock based compensation, net (in shares)	279	95	195
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	$ (455)	$ (296)	$ 72,539
Sale of common stock by general partner, net (in shares)			228
Equity based compensation costs	11,286	12,453	$ 11,029
Retirement of common stock, net	$ (9,172)	$ (269,315)	$ (56,989)
Retirement of common stock, net (in shares)	(40)	(1,197)	(234)
Cumulative effect upon adoption	$ 5,999,155	$ 6,015,139	$ 6,234,315	$ 6,280,290
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]			Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]	Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 [Member]
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(7,489)	4,375	$ (3,427)
Redemptions	$ (7,566)	$ (2,020)	$ (28,083)
Redemptions (in shares)	10	9	13
Distributions declared	$ (544,194)	$ (542,254)	$ (514,109)
Balances	$ 5,999,155	$ 6,015,139	$ 6,234,315	$ 6,280,290
Balances (in shares)	65,248	64,999	66,092	65,890
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | General Partner | Common Equity | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances		$ (190)
Issuance of common stock under:
Cumulative effect upon adoption			$ (190)
Balances			(190)
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Limited Partner | Common Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	$ 58,184	$ 57,359	$ 59,061
Balances (in shares)	2,295	2,302	2,305
Net income	$ 17,191	$ 19,912	$ 15,343
Issuance of common stock under:
Equity based compensation costs	397	$ 460	$ 1,254
Equity based compensation costs (in shares)		2	10
Cumulative effect upon adoption	56,502	$ 58,184	$ 57,359	$ 59,061
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	152	(197)	109
Redemptions	$ (296)	$ (275)	$ (436)
Redemptions (in shares)	(13)	(9)	(13)
Distributions declared	$ (19,126)	$ (19,075)	$ (17,972)
Balances	$ 56,502	$ 58,184	$ 57,359	$ 59,061
Balances (in shares)	2,282	2,295	2,302	2,305