<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246991-16-000516.txt : 20160818
<SEC-HEADER>0001246991-16-000516.hdr.sgml : 20160818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160818154256
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246991-16-000516
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160817
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160818
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160818

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOSTON PROPERTIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037540
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				042473675
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172363300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02199

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POWERS JOHN FRANCIS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001595258

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13087
		FILM NUMBER:		161840929

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		599 LEXINGTON AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-08-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001037540</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOSTON PROPERTIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001595258</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POWERS JOHN FRANCIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BOSTON PROPERTIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>599 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-08-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>141.9025</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>274.19</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2685</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Depositary Shares of Series B Preferred Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-08-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7272</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.9964</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7272</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average sale price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at sale prices ranging from $141.90 to $141.935 inclusive.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes an aggregate of 274.19 shares which the Reporting Person acquired in January 2015, July 2015 and July 2016 pursuant to the Boston Properties, Inc. 1999 Non-Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Complete Title of Security: Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/100th of a Share of 5.25% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the &quot;Series B Preferred Stock&quot;).  The Issuer pays cumulative cash dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock at a fixed rate of 5.25% per annum of the liquidation preference per share of the Series B Preferred Stock (equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $1.3125 per Depositary Share).  The Depositary Shares are not redeemable by the holders thereof, have no maturity date, are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or any security of the Issuer or any of its affiliates, and generally have no voting rights.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents the weighted average purchase price per share. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at purchase prices ranging from $25.94 to $26.00 inclusive.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kelli A. DiLuglio, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
