v2.4.0.8
(Common Units) (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
0 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2014
Apr. 30, 2014
Jan. 29, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Y
Sep. 11, 2014
OP Units [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
OP Units for redemption (in shares)       70,422  
Redemption of OP units issued on conversion of LTIP Units (in shares)       67,368  
Outperformance Awards LTIP Units distribution as percentage of OP Unit distribution prior to measurement date       10.00%  
Distributions made to OP and LTIP units per unit (in dollars per share) $ 0.65 $ 0.65 $ 0.65    
Distribution paid to outperformance awards, OPP Units and MYLTIP Units (in dollars per share) $ 0.065 $ 0.065 $ 0.065    
Distribution declared to OP and LTIP units by Boston Properties, Inc. (in dollars per share)         $ 0.65
Distribution declared to outperformance awards OPP Units by Boston Properties, Inc. (in dollars per share)         $ 0.065
Restriction on redemption of OP Unit to Common Stock (in years)       1  
Redemption of OP Unit equivalence to Common Stock (in shares)       1  
Common units of operating partnership if converted value       $ 2,100,000,000  
Closing price of common stock (in dollars per share)       $ 115.76  
OPP Units 2012 [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Outperformance awards in LTIP Units (in shares)       394,590  
MYLTIP [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
2013 MYLTIP       314,974  
MYLTIP 2014 [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
2014 MYLTIP       483,555  
Quarter 4 2013 [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Jan. 29, 2014  
Quarter 4 2013 [Member] | OP Units [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Jan. 29, 2014  
Holders of record date       Dec. 31, 2013  
Quarter 1 2014 [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Apr. 30, 2014  
Quarter 1 2014 [Member] | OP Units [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Apr. 30, 2014  
Holders of record date       Mar. 31, 2014  
Quarter 2 2014 [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Jul. 31, 2014  
Quarter 2 2014 [Member] | OP Units [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Jul. 31, 2014  
Holders of record date       Jun. 30, 2014  
Quarter 3 2014 [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Oct. 31, 2014  
Dividends payable, date declared       Sep. 11, 2014  
Quarter 3 2014 [Member] | OP Units [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Dividend payable date       Oct. 31, 2014  
Holders of record date       Sep. 30, 2014  
Dividends payable, date declared       Sep. 11, 2014  
special dividend [Member] | OP Units [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Distributions made to OP and LTIP units per unit (in dollars per share)     $ 2.25    
OPP Units 2011 [Member]
         
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]          
Accelerated compensation expenses related To 2011 OPP Units       $ 1,200,000