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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions And Methodology [Table Text Block] | The fair value for the Company's share options was estimated at the time the share options were granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the primary grant in each year having the following weighted average assumptions:
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Expected volatility (1) |  | 26.6% |  | 27.0% |  | 26.9%
Expected life (2) |  | 5 years |  | 5 years |  | 5 years
Expected dividend yield (3) |  | 3.13% |  | 3.78% |  | 4.12%
Risk-free interest rate (4) |  | 1.29% |  | 1.50% |  | 0.84%
Option valuation per share |  | $13.68 |  | $9.12 |  | $7.90
(1) | Expected volatility – Estimated based on the historical ten-year volatility of EQR’s share price measured on a monthly basis.
(2) | Expected life – Approximates the actual weighted average life of all share options granted since the Company went public in 1993.
(3) | Expected dividend yield – Calculated by averaging the historical annual yield on EQR shares for a period matching the expected life of each grant, with the annual yield calculated by dividing actual dividends by the average price of EQR’s shares in a given year.
(4) | Risk-free interest rate – The most current U.S. Treasury rate available prior to the grant date for a period matching the expected life of each grant.
Allocation Of Income Franchise And Excise Taxes In Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Table Text Block] | The Company provided for income, franchise and excise taxes allocated as follows in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands):
|  | Year Ended December 31,
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Income and other tax expense (benefit) (1) |  | $ | 917 |  |  | $ | 1,394 |  |  | $ | 1,169 |
Discontinued operations, net (2) |  | 15 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 449 |
Provision for income, franchise and excise taxes (3) |  | $ | 932 |  |  | $ | 1,402 |  |  | $ | 1,618 |
(1) | Primarily includes state and local income, excise and franchise taxes.
(2) | Primarily represents state and local income, excise and franchise taxes on operating properties sold prior to January 1, 2014 and included in discontinued operations. The amounts included in discontinued operations for the years ending December 31, 2015 and 2014 represent trailing activity for properties sold in 2013 and prior years. None of the properties sold during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 met the new criteria for reporting discontinued operations.
(3) | All provisions for income tax amounts are current and none are deferred.
Tax Treatment Of Dividends And Distributions [Table Text Block] | During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s tax treatment of dividends and distributions were as follows:
|  | Year Ended December 31,
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Tax treatment of dividends and distributions: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ordinary dividends |  | $ | 1.591 |  |  | $ | 1.475 |  |  | $ | 0.662 |
Qualified dividends |  | 0.037 |  |  | 0.088 |  |  | 0.050 |
Long-term capital gain |  | 0.443 |  |  | 0.280 |  |  | 0.870 |
Unrecaptured section 1250 gain |  | 0.139 |  |  | 0.157 |  |  | 0.268 |
Dividends and distributions declared per |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Share/Unit outstanding |  | $ | 2.210 |  |  | $ | 2.000 |  |  | $ | 1.850 |

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- Definition This table represents the allocation of state and local income, franchise and excise taxes on current operating properties as well as operating properties that have been sold. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This table includes the option price per share that is calculated using the Black Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions used in the calculation: volatility of option price, the expected life of the option, the expected dividend yield (based on the life of the option) and the risk-free interest rate. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This table represents the tax treatments of dividends paid to unit/shareholders. Ordinary dividends are taxed as ordinary income while qualified dividends are taxed as capital gains. This table also includes the nontaxable portions (deferred until unit/share sold) as long-term/short-term capital gains/losses. + References No definition available. + Details
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