Condensed Consolidated Statement of Capital (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Net income	$ 8,428	$ 34,834
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities		(886)
Changes in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements		4,293
Changes in fair value of marketable securities		3,576
Issuance of common stock under:
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger		3,777,646
Sale of common stock by general partner		299,397
Sale of common stock by general partner (in shares)	792,700
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest		18,766
Conversion of Series G Preferred		4,349
Contributions from non controlling interest		1,419,816
Retirement of non controlling interest		(1,419,816)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		7,510
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest		(2,550)
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Balances		1,998,238
Net income	8,428	34,834
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities		(886)
Changes in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements		4,293
Changes in fair value of marketable securities		3,576
Issuance of common stock under:
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger		3,777,646
General partner's stock based compensation		10,350
Sale of common stock by general partner		299,397
Stock and unit based compensation costs		140
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(18,766)
Conversion of Series G Preferred		4,349
Contributions from non controlling interest		1,419,816
Retirement of non controlling interest		(1,419,816)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(2,045)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest		(2,550)
Distributions declared		(136,394)
Balances	5,972,182	5,972,182
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balances		(58,940)
Net income		0
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities		(886)
Changes in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements		4,293
Changes in fair value of marketable securities		3,576
Issuance of common stock under:
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger		0
General partner's stock based compensation		0
Sale of common stock by general partner		0
Stock and unit based compensation costs		0
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest		0
Conversion of Series G Preferred		0
Contributions from non controlling interest		0
Retirement of non controlling interest		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest		0
Distributions declared		0
Balances	(51,957)	(51,957)
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balances		66,130
Net income		3,625
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities		0
Changes in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements		0
Changes in fair value of marketable securities		0
Issuance of common stock under:
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger		0
General partner's stock based compensation		0
Sale of common stock by general partner		0
Stock and unit based compensation costs		0
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(5,032)
Conversion of Series G Preferred		0
Contributions from non controlling interest		0
Retirement of non controlling interest		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		(2,045)
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest		(414)
Distributions declared		0
Balances	62,264	62,264
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
Balances		1,873,882
Balances (in shares)		37,421,000
Net income		26,901
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities		0
Changes in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements		0
Changes in fair value of marketable securities		0
Issuance of common stock under:
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger		3,777,646
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger (in shares)		23,093,000
General partner's stock based compensation		10,350
General partner's stock based compensation (in shares)		109,000
Sale of common stock by general partner		299,397
Sale of common stock by general partner (in shares)		1,644,000
Stock and unit based compensation costs		(1,126)
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(20,134)
Conversion of Series G Preferred		4,349
Conversion of Series G Preferred (in shares)		34,000
Contributions from non controlling interest		0
Retirement of non controlling interest		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest		(1,985)
Distributions declared		(128,247)
Balances	5,841,033	5,841,033
Balances (in shares)	62,301,000	62,301,000
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Preferred Equity [Member]
Balances		71,209
Net income		2,682
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities		0
Changes in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements		0
Changes in fair value of marketable securities		0
Issuance of common stock under:
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger		0
General partner's stock based compensation		0
Sale of common stock by general partner		0
Stock and unit based compensation costs		0
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest		0
Conversion of Series G Preferred		0
Contributions from non controlling interest		0
Retirement of non controlling interest		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest		0
Distributions declared		(2,682)
Balances	71,209	71,209
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | Limited Partners [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
Balances		45,957
Balances (in shares)		2,150,000
Net income		1,626
Reversal of unrealized gains upon the sale of marketable securities		0
Changes in fair value of derivatives and amortization of swap settlements		0
Changes in fair value of marketable securities		0
Issuance of common stock under:
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger		0
Common stock issued as consideration by general partner in merger (in shares)		0
General partner's stock based compensation		0
General partner's stock based compensation (in shares)		0
Sale of common stock by general partner		0
Sale of common stock by general partner (in shares)		0
Stock and unit based compensation costs		1,266
Stock and unit based compensation costs (in shares)		23,000
Reclassification of noncontrolling interest to redeemable noncontrolling interest		6,400
Conversion of Series G Preferred		0
Conversion of Series G Preferred (in shares)		0
Contributions from non controlling interest		1,419,816
Contributions from non controlling interest (in shares)		8,561,000
Retirement of non controlling interest		(1,419,816)
Retirement of non controlling interest (in shares)		(8,561,000)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		0
Redemptions of noncontrolling interest		(151)
Distributions declared		(5,465)
Balances	$ 49,633	$ 49,633
Balances (in shares)	2,171,000	2,171,000