<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246991-16-000534.txt : 20161004
<SEC-HEADER>0001246991-16-000534.hdr.sgml : 20161004
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161004124445
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246991-16-000534
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161004
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161004

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:			DYKSTRA KAREN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198848

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13087
		FILM NUMBER:		161917887

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ADP BLVD
		CITY:			ROSELAND
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07068
</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>2016-09-30</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198848</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DYKSTRA KAREN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>800 BOYLSTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>167.84</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>136.29</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>167.84</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>242.74</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Phantom Stock Units convert to Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Phantom Stock Units are awarded under the Boston Properties, Inc. 2012 Stock Option and Incentive Plan to non-employee directors who elected to receive Phantom Stock Units in lieu of director cash compensation fees.  The Phantom Stock Units are to be settled in shares of Common Stock (except that fractional units, if any, will be settled in cash) upon the Reporting Person's retirement from the Boston Properties, Inc. Board of Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes Phantom Stock Units received pursuant to dividend equivalent rights which were credited to the Reporting Person when and as dividends were paid on Boston Properties, Inc. Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kelli A. DiLuglio, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
