Organization and Basis of Presentation - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($) apartment partnership community project investment building shares	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($) apartment partnership community project investment building shares	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) community partnership investment shares
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Apartment communities owned (in communities) | community	252		252
Apartment units owned (in apartments) | apartment	61,997		61,997
Ownership interest, number of commercial buildings (in commercial buildings) | building	3		3
Ownership interest, number of unconsolidated joint venture projects (in projects) | project	1		1
Marketable securities	$ 100		$ 100		$ 200
DownREIT limited partnerships consolidated by company (in partnerships) | partnership	18		18		18
Communities within DownREIT partnerships (in communities) | community	9		9		9
Number of previously consolidated co-investments considered VIE (in investments) | investment	6		6		6
Assets related to variable interest entities net of intercompany eliminations	$ 948,400		$ 948,400		$ 939,400
Liabilities related to variable interest entities net of intercompany eliminations	324,700		324,700		324,300
Noncontrolling interest in variable interest entity	121,200		121,200		121,500
Fixed rate debt carrying amount	5,400,000		5,400,000		5,700,000
Fixed rate debt fair value	4,900,000		4,900,000		5,200,000
Variable rate debt, carrying amount	554,600		554,600		274,200
Variable rate debt fair value	553,700		553,700		273,200
Capitalized internal costs related to development and redevelopment projects	4,600	$ 5,800	9,400	$ 11,200
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 31,355		$ 31,355		$ 27,150
Minimum
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Apartment lease term	9 months		9 months
Maximum
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Apartment lease term	12 months		12 months
Interest and Other Income (Expense)
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities recognized through income	$ 4,600	$ (14,700)	$ 6,000	$ (18,600)
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Operating partnership units outstanding (in shares) | shares	2,260,112		2,260,112		2,272,496
Redemption value of operating partnership units outstanding	$ 529,500		$ 529,500		$ 481,600
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 31,355		$ 31,355		$ 27,150
Partnership Interest
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Ownership interest in partnership			96.60%		96.60%