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Noncontrolling Interests (Property Partnerships) (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
May 12, 2016 | Sep. 18, 2015 USD ($) ft² | Oct. 30, 2014 USD ($) ft² floor | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 10, 2015 USD ($)
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property partnerships |  |  |  | $ 1,530,647 | $ 1,574,400 |  |
Proceeds from sales of real estate |  |  |  | 122,750 | 602,600 | $ 419,864 |
Gains on sales of real estate |  |  |  | 80,606 | 375,895 | 168,039 |
505 9th Street [Member] | Consolidated Properties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage by Parent |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |
Sale Price Of Sold Property |  | $ 318,000 |  |  |  |  |
Mortgage Loan Related to Property Sales |  | $ 117,000 |  |  |  |  |
Net Rentable Area | ft² |  | 322,000 |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from sales of real estate |  | $ 194,600 |  |  |  |  |
Gains on sales of real estate |  | 199,500 |  |  |  |  |
Noncontroling interest for a dissolved entity relcassed to accounts payable and and accrued expenses |  |  |  | 200 |  |  | $ 4,100
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) [Member] | 505 9th Street [Member] | Consolidated Properties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from sales of real estate |  | 97,300 |  |  |  |  |
Gains on sales of real estate |  | 101,100 |  |  |  |  |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property partnerships |  |  |  | 1,530,647 | 1,574,400 |  |
Proceeds from sales of real estate |  |  |  | 122,750 | 602,600 | 419,864 |
Gains on sales of real estate |  |  |  | 82,775 | $ 377,093 | $ 174,686 |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | 505 9th Street [Member] | Consolidated Properties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gains on sales of real estate |  | $ 199,700 |  |  |  |  |
601 Lexington Avenue, Atlantic Wharf Office Building and 100 Federal Street [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Price Of Sold Property |  |  | $ 1,827,000 |  |  |  |
Portion allocation to noncontrolling interest based on carrying value of the total equity of the property prior to the sale |  |  | 849,000 |  |  |  |
Difference between net cash proceeds received and noncontrolling interest recognized |  |  | 648,500 |  |  |  |
Proceeds from sale of an interest in a real estate asset |  |  | $ 1,497,000 |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  | 45.00% |  |  |  |
Secured debt |  |  | $ 712,900 |  |  |  |
601 Lexington Avenue | 601 Lexington Avenue, Atlantic Wharf Office Building and 100 Federal Street [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Rentable Area | ft² |  |  | 1,669,000 |  |  |  |
Atlantic Wharf | 601 Lexington Avenue, Atlantic Wharf Office Building and 100 Federal Street [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Rentable Area | ft² |  |  | 791,000 |  |  |  |
100 Federal Street | 601 Lexington Avenue, Atlantic Wharf Office Building and 100 Federal Street [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Rentable Area | ft² |  |  | 1,323,000 |  |  |  |
Office Tower [Member] | 601 Lexington Avenue, Atlantic Wharf Office Building and 100 Federal Street [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of floors in building | floor |  |  | 59 |  |  |  |
Low Rise Building [Member] | 601 Lexington Avenue, Atlantic Wharf Office Building and 100 Federal Street [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of floors in building | floor |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |
Salesforce Tower | Consolidated Properties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Portion of project costs covered by a construction loan | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Portion of costs funded (in percentage) | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate | 3.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Salesforce Tower | Boston Properties, Inc. [Member] | Consolidated Properties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Costs funded (in percentage) | 2.50% |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred equity funded |  |  |  | $ 4,300 |  |  |

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