Debt - Debt Summary Footnotes (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($) instrument extension_option	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Bonds public offering - fixed rate, net
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount (premium), net	$ 6,600,000	$ 6,100,000
Unamortized debt issuance expense	26,800,000	25,300,000
Bonds public offering - fixed rate, net | Unsecured debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument face amount	$ 350,000,000
Bonds public offering - fixed rate, net | Unsecured Bonds 5.500%, Due March 2028 | Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	5.50%
Debt instrument, debt offering price, percentage of par value	99.752%
Lines of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance expense	$ 3,500,000	3,800,000
Number of lines of unsecured credit (in instruments) | instrument	2
Aggregate borrowing capacity	$ 1,240,000,000
Number of extension options (in extensions) | extension_option	2
Extension period	6 months
Lines of credit | Working capital line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate borrowing capacity	$ 35,000,000
Lines of credit | SOFR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.75%
Lines of credit | SOFR | Working capital line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.75%
Mortgage notes payable, net
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount (premium), net	$ 300,000	500,000
Unamortized debt issuance expense	$ 3,000,000	$ 3,100,000