Net Income Per Common Share and Net Income Per Common Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 405,825	$ 408,315	$ 488,554
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	64,252,232	65,079,764	65,051,465
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.32	$ 6.27	$ 7.51
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 405,825	$ 408,315	$ 488,554
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders (in shares)	64,253,385	65,098,186	65,088,874
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.32	$ 6.27	$ 7.51
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 420,109	$ 422,612	$ 505,745
Weighted average common shares/units (in shares)	66,513,303	67,356,105	67,340,856
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.32	$ 6.27	$ 7.51
Diluted:
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 420,109	$ 422,612	$ 505,745
Income from continuing operations available to common stockholders (in shares)	66,514,456	67,374,527	67,378,265
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.32	$ 6.27	$ 7.51
Stock options
Basic:
Income effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	1,153	18,422	37,409
Diluted:
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	508,276	253,845	116,380
Stock options | Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Basic:
Income effect of dilutive securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	1,153	18,422	37,409
Diluted:
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	508,276	253,845	116,380
Convertible Limited Partnership Units
Diluted:
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares)	2,261,071	2,276,341	2,289,391
Income allocated to convertible OP Units	$ 14,300	$ 14,300	$ 17,200