EPLP - Consolidated Statements of Capital - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]				Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 432,985	$ 515,691	$ 599,332
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	0	0	3,338
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	54,158	9,170	(4,148)
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	233	329	(61)
Issuance of common stock under:
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	(314)	(455)	(296)
Retirement of common stock, net	(189,726)	(9,172)	(269,315)
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	7,038	(6,890)	4,299
Changes in noncontrolling interest from acquisition			1,349
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	125	1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(30,959)	(29,341)	(31,367)
Redemptions	(11,452)	(8,457)	(3,113)
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	6,176,508	6,183,192	6,403,504
Net income	432,985	515,691	599,332
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable debt securities	(577)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	0	0	3,338
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	54,158	9,170	(4,148)
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	233	329	(61)
Issuance of common stock under:
General partner's stock based compensation, net	17,309	53,052	9,201
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	(314)	(455)	(296)
Equity based compensation costs	11,446	11,683	12,913
Retirement of common stock, net	(189,726)	(9,172)	(269,315)
Cumulative effect upon adoption	5,895,116	6,176,508	6,183,192	$ 6,403,504
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	7,038	(6,890)	4,299
Changes in noncontrolling interest from acquisition			1,349
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	125	1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(10,935)	(10,215)	(12,292)
Redemptions	(11,452)	(8,457)	(3,113)
Distributions declared	(591,682)	(563,320)	(561,329)
Balances	5,895,116	6,176,508	6,183,192	6,403,504
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | 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. | Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	(1,804)	(11,303)	(10,432)
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable debt securities	(577)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings			3,338
Change in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements	54,158	9,170	(4,148)
Change in fair value of marketable debt securities, net	233	329	(61)
Issuance of common stock under:
Cumulative effect upon adoption	52,010	(1,804)	(11,303)	(10,432)
Balances	52,010	(1,804)	(11,303)	(10,432)
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Noncontrolling interest
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances	122,655	121,172	122,262
Net income	10,373	9,946	10,550
Issuance of common stock under:
Cumulative effect upon adoption	121,746	122,655	121,172	122,262
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	422	447	121
Changes in noncontrolling interest from acquisition			1,349
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	125	1,900
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(10,935)	(10,215)	(12,292)
Redemptions	(894)	(595)	(818)
Balances	$ 121,746	$ 122,655	$ 121,172	$ 122,262
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | General Partner | Common Equity
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]				Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balances (in shares)	65,248	64,999	66,092
Balances	$ 5,999,155	$ 6,015,139	$ 6,234,315
Net income	$ 408,315	$ 488,554	$ 568,870
Issuance of common stock under:
General partner's stock based compensation, net (in shares)	89	279	95
General partner's stock based compensation, net	$ 17,309	$ 53,052	$ 9,201
Sale of common stock by general partner, net	(314)	(455)	(296)
Equity based compensation costs	$ 11,059	$ 11,286	$ 12,453
Retirement of common stock, net (in shares)	(740)	(40)	(1,197)
Retirement of common stock, net	$ (189,726)	$ (9,172)	$ (269,315)
Cumulative effect upon adoption	5,669,906	5,999,155	6,015,139	$ 6,234,315
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 6,230	$ (7,489)	$ 4,375
Redemptions (in shares)	8	10	9
Redemptions	$ (10,464)	$ (7,566)	$ (2,020)
Distributions declared	$ (571,658)	$ (544,194)	$ (542,254)
Balances (in shares)	64,605	65,248	64,999	66,092
Balances	$ 5,669,906	$ 5,999,155	$ 6,015,139	$ 6,234,315
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 (in shares)	2,282	2,295	2,302
Balances	$ 56,502	$ 58,184	$ 57,359
Net income	14,297	17,191	19,912
Issuance of common stock under:
Equity based compensation costs	387	397	$ 460
Equity based compensation costs (in shares)			2
Cumulative effect upon adoption	51,454	56,502	$ 58,184	$ 57,359
Changes in the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 386	$ 152	$ (197)
Redemptions (in shares)	(10)	(13)	(9)
Redemptions	$ (94)	$ (296)	$ (275)
Distributions declared	$ (20,024)	$ (19,126)	$ (19,075)
Balances (in shares)	2,272	2,282	2,295	2,302
Balances	$ 51,454	$ 56,502	$ 58,184	$ 57,359