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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Number of Real Estate Properties | 389 us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties |
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | 108,793 us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty |
Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties | $ 122,661,000 eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsPartiallyOwnedProperties | $ 124,909,000 eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsPartiallyOwnedProperties
Partially Owned Properties [Member] |  |
Number of Real Estate Properties | 19 us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties / us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis = us-gaap_PartiallyOwnedPropertiesMember |
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | 3,771 us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty / us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis = us-gaap_PartiallyOwnedPropertiesMember |
Limited Life Partnership Properties [Member] |  |
Number of Real Estate Properties | 6 us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties / us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis = eqr_LimitedLifePartnershipPropertiesMember |
Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties | 10,992,000 eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsPartiallyOwnedProperties / us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis = eqr_LimitedLifePartnershipPropertiesMember |
Noncontrolling Interests Settlement Value | $ 63,300,000 eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsSettlementValue / us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis = eqr_LimitedLifePartnershipPropertiesMember |

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- Definition Carrying amount of equity interests owned by noncontrolling partners in partially owned properties. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsPartiallyOwnedProperties
Namespace Prefix: | eqr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Represents the value of Noncontrolling Interest distributions had the Company's partnership agreements been liquidated through the sale of their assets upon reaching the date specified in each respective partnership agreement. The Company, as controlling partner, has an obligation to cause the property owning partnerships to distribute the proceeds of liquidation to the Noncontrolling Interests in these Partially Owned Properties. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | eqr_NoncontrollingInterestsSettlementValue
Namespace Prefix: | eqr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=eqr_LimitedLifePartnershipPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RealEstatePropertiesAxis=us-gaap_PartiallyOwnedPropertiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |