XML 87 R66.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Debt Notes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt |  | $ 750,000 | $ 500,000
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate | 0.00% |  |
Repayments of Notes Payable | $ 300,000 | 1,250,000 | $ 400,000
Summary of Company's unsecured note balances and certain interest rate and maturity date information |  |  |
Notes, net | $ 5,876,352 | 5,425,346 |
6.584% Notes [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 6.584% |  |
Repayments of Notes Payable | $ 300,000 |  |
3.375% Notes [Member] [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt | $ 450,000 |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 3.375% |  |
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs | $ 447,500 |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Maximum | 3.81% |  |
4.50% Notes [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt | $ 300,000 | $ 750,000 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 4.50% | 4.50% |
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs | $ 298,900 | $ 744,700 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Maximum | 4.55% | 4.57% |
5.250% Notes [Member] [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 5.25% |
Repayments of Notes Payable |  | $ 500,000 |
DelayedDrawTermLoan [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Repayments of Notes Payable |  | 750,000 |
Write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs |  | 600 |
2.375% Notes [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt | $ 450,000 | $ 450,000 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 2.375% | 2.375% |
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate | 0.61% |  |
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs |  | $ 449,600 |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Maximum |  | 2.52% |
Fixed Rate Public or Private Notes [Member] |  |  |
Summary of Company's unsecured note balances and certain interest rate and maturity date information |  |  |
Notes, net | $ 5,423,012 | $ 4,974,154 |
Weighted Average Interest Rate | 5.30% | 5.45% |
Floating Rate Public or Private Notes [Member] |  |  |
Summary of Company's unsecured note balances and certain interest rate and maturity date information |  |  |
Notes, net | $ 453,340 | $ 451,192 |
Weighted Average Interest Rate | 0.93% | 1.15% |
2.375% Notes [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate | 0.61% |  |
Fixed Rate Public or Private Notes [Member] |  |  |
Summary of Company's unsecured note balances and certain interest rate and maturity date information |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum | 3.00% | 3.00% |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum | 7.57% | 7.57% |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start | Jan. 01, 2016 | Jan. 01, 2015 |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End | Dec. 31, 2045 | Dec. 31, 2044 |
Floating Rate Public or Private Notes [Member] |  |  |
Summary of Company's unsecured note balances and certain interest rate and maturity date information |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start | Jan. 01, 2019 | Jan. 01, 2019 |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2019 |
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | 2.375% Notes [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis | LIBOR plus .61% | LIBOR plus .61% |

X
- Definition Write-off of amounts previously capitalized as debt issuance costs as part of an extinguishment of debt. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | eqr_UnamortizedDeferredFinancingCostsWrittenOff
Namespace Prefix: | eqr_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the weighted average interest rate on notes payable during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | eqr_WeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | eqr_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition When presenting a range of interest rates, the highest effective rate for funds borrowed under the debt agreement as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Minimum contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageRateRangeMinimum
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Latest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeEnd1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Earliest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeStart1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongTermDebtAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of all types of notes payable, as of the balance sheet date, with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13, 16 -Article 9 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NotesPayable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash inflow from additional borrowings, net of cash paid to third parties in connection with debt origination. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromDebtNetOfIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow from the issuance of long-term debt that is not secured by collateral. Excludes proceeds from tax exempt unsecured debt. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfUnsecuredDebt
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow for a borrowing supported by a written promise to pay an obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RepaymentsOfNotesPayable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_A6.584NotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_A3.375NotesMemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_A4.50NotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_A5.250NotesMemberMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_DelayeddrawtermloanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_A2.375NotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_FixedRatePublicOrPrivateNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=eqr_FloatingRatePublicOrPrivateNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=eqr_A2.375NotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=eqr_FixedRatePublicOrPrivateNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=eqr_FloatingRatePublicOrPrivateNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |