Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 26,406	$ 29,703
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(427)	(1,767)
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investment	(3,213)	0
Gain on the sales of real estate	(8,268)	(1,503)
(Gain) loss on early retirement of debt	3,750	0
Co-investments	(6,695)	(391)
Amortization expense	2,986	2,930
Amortization of discount on notes receivables	0	(844)
Amortization of discount on marketable securities	(1,938)	(1,377)
Depreciation	50,312	47,144
Equity-based compensation	1,233	1,132
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,787	1,764
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	15,918	8,443
Other liabilities	92	458
Net cash provided by operating activities	82,943	85,692
Additions to real estate:
Acquisitions of real estate	(33,825)	(175,950)
Improvements to recent acquisitions	(1,960)	(2,601)
Redevelopment	(6,408)	(6,573)
Revenue generating capital expenditures	(3,873)	(304)
Lessor required capital expenditure	(4,321)	(768)
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures	(4,416)	(4,019)
Acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development	(11,919)	(3,332)
Dispositions of real estate	14,123	9,051
Changes in restricted cash and deposits	2,512	19,980
Purchases of marketable securities	(10,340)	(6,541)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities	4,016	20,335
Collections of notes and other receivables	35,500	52,473
Contributions to co-investments	(39,679)	(45,518)
Distributions from co-investments	8,951	38,030
Net cash used in investing activities	(51,639)	(105,737)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	233,780	235,282
Repayment of debt	(312,585)	(279,854)
Additions to deferred charges	(9,294)	(716)
Equity related issuance cost	(92)	(225)
Net proceeds from stock options exercised	1,176	1,367
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	157,596	122,905
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(3,969)	(3,995)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(101)	(1,329)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid	(96,388)	(41,152)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(29,877)	32,283
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,427	12,238
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	18,491	18,606
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	19,918	30,844
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of $3.1 million, and $3.7 million capitalized in 2014 and 2013, respectively	26,447	23,863
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of Operating Partnership units for contributed properties	1,416,816	0
Transfer from real estate under development to rental properties	3,070	67
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments	3,125	0
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities	631	570
Change in fair value of marketable securities	1,575	1,629
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	26,406	29,703
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(427)	(1,767)
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investment	(3,213)	0
Gain on the sales of real estate	(8,268)	(1,503)
(Gain) loss on early retirement of debt	3,750	0
Co-investments	(6,695)	(391)
Amortization expense	2,986	2,930
Amortization of discount on notes receivables	0	(844)
Amortization of discount on marketable securities	(1,938)	(1,377)
Depreciation	50,312	47,144
Equity-based compensation	1,233	1,132
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets	2,787	1,764
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	15,918	8,443
Other liabilities	92	458
Net cash provided by operating activities	82,943	85,692
Additions to real estate:
Acquisitions of real estate	(33,825)	(175,950)
Improvements to recent acquisitions	(1,960)	(2,601)
Redevelopment	(6,408)	(6,573)
Revenue generating capital expenditures	(3,873)	(304)
Lessor required capital expenditure	(4,321)	(768)
Non-revenue generating capital expenditures	(4,416)	(4,019)
Acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development	(11,919)	(3,332)
Dispositions of real estate	14,123	9,051
Changes in restricted cash and deposits	2,512	19,980
Purchases of marketable securities	(10,340)	(6,541)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities	4,016	20,335
Collections of notes and other receivables	35,500	52,473
Contributions to co-investments	(39,679)	(45,518)
Distributions from co-investments	8,951	38,030
Net cash used in investing activities	(51,639)	(105,737)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	233,780	235,282
Repayment of debt	(312,585)	(279,854)
Additions to deferred charges	(9,294)	(716)
Equity related issuance cost	(92)	(225)
Net proceeds from stock options exercised	1,176	1,367
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	157,596	122,905
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(1,335)	(1,323)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(101)	(1,329)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid	(99,022)	(43,824)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(29,877)	32,283
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,427	12,238
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	18,491	18,606
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	19,918	30,844
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of $3.1 million, and $3.7 million capitalized in 2014 and 2013, respectively	26,447	23,863
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of Operating Partnership units for contributed properties	1,416,816	0
Transfer from real estate under development to rental properties	3,070	67
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments	3,125	0
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities	631	570
Change in fair value of marketable securities	$ 1,575	$ 1,629