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(Common Units) (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions |  |  | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 04, 2016 USD ($) shares | Feb. 06, 2015 USD ($) shares | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) yr $ / shares shares
OP Units [Member] |  |  |
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |
OP Units for redemption (in shares) |  |  | 13,259
Redemption of OP units issued on conversion of LTIP Units (in shares) |  |  | 7,277
Restriction on redemption of OP Unit to Common Stock (in years) | yr |  |  | 1
Redemption of OP Unit equivalence to Common Stock (in shares) |  |  | 1
Common units of operating partnership if converted value | $ |  |  | $ 2,300.0
Closing price of common stock (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  | $ 127.08
OPP Units 2012 [Member] |  |  |
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |
Outperformance awards earned | $ |  | $ 32.1 |
Potential maximum amount of Outperformance Awards earned (percent) |  | 80.00% |
Potential Awards Earned | $ |  | $ 40.0 |
2012 OPP Units Forfeited |  | 174,549 |
2013 MYLTIP [Member] |  |  |
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |
Final awards percentage of target | 109.50% |  |
Value of MYLTIP Awards | $ | $ 13.5 |  |
2013 MYLTIP Units Forfeited | 205,762 |  |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | OP Units [Member] |  |  |
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |
Outperformance Awards LTIP Units distribution as percentage of OP Unit distribution prior to measurement date |  |  | 10.00%
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | MYLTIP 2014 [Member] |  |  |
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |
2014 MYLTIP (in units) |  |  | 475,558
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | 2015 MYLTIP [Member] |  |  |
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |
2015 MYLTIPS (in units) |  |  | 367,936
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | 2016 MYLTIP [Member] |  |  |
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items] |  |  |
2016 MYLTIPs (in units) |  |  | 474,456

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