<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-14-024624.txt : 20140804
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-14-024624.hdr.sgml : 20140804
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140804161600
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-14-024624
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140731
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140804
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140804

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906107
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				363877868
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		STREET 2:		TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 400
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3129281178

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EQUITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930524

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPECTOR GERALD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219721

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12252
		FILM NUMBER:		141013170

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EQUITY RESIDENTIAL
		STREET 2:		TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 400
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-07-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906107</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EQUITY RESIDENTIAL</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219721</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPECTOR GERALD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO NORTH RIVERSIDE PLAZA, SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Vice Chairman</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33048</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.80</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>306169.3667</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33048</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>65.319</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>273121.3667</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3472</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25015</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>57187</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-07-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33048</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-02-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares Of Beneficial Interest</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33048</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>84848</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Direct total includes restricted shares of the Company scheduled to vest in the future.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price represents the weighted average price of the shares sold.  The shares were sold within a range of $65.00 to $65.73.  The reporting person will provide, upon request by the SEC staff, the issuer, or any security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares beneficially owned by Mr. Spector as custodian for his minor children. Mr. Spector disclaims beneficial ownership of said shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares beneficially owned by the Concord Lane Trust.  Mr. Spector disclaims beneficial ownership of said shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents shares held by the Spector Family Dynasty Trust (the &quot;SFDT&quot;). Mr. Spector is the sole trustee of the SFDT and, as such, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the shares reported herein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents shares beneficially owned by Mr. Spector's spouse.  Mr. Spector disclaims beneficial ownership of said shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Represents share options originally scheduled to vest in approximately three equal installments on February 3, 2007, February 3, 2008 and February 3, 2009.  The vesting date of the share options originally scheduled to vest on February 3, 2009 was accelerated to November 3, 2008 due to the retirement of the reporting person as an executive officer of the Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ By:  Jane Matz, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
