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Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital Partners' Capital Changes in Issued and Outstanding Partners' Capital Units (Details) - shares | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items] |  |  |
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units | 190,857 | 424,236 |
Limited Partners' Ending Balance | 152,072,432 |  |
General Partners' Ending Balance | 1,717,743 |  |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership |  |  |
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items] |  |  |
General Partners' Beginning Balance | 1,715,092 |  |
Limited Partners Beginning Balance | 151,864,874 |  |
Partners' Capital Beginning Balance | 153,579,966 | 153,113,945 | 152,983,101
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 5,695 | 6,199 | 6,964
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net | 13,657 | 35,586 | 43,634
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units | 190,857 | 424,236 | 80,246
Limited Partners' Ending Balance | 152,072,432 | 151,864,874 |
Partners' Capital Ending Balance | 153,790,175 | 153,579,966 | 153,113,945
General Partners' Ending Balance | 1,717,743 | 1,715,092 |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | General Partner [Member] |  |  |
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items] |  |  |
General Partners' Beginning Balance | 1,715,092 | 1,710,644 | 1,700,222
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 72 | 59 | 555
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net | 172 | 340 | 3,476
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units | 2,407 | 4,049 | 6,391
General Partners' Ending Balance | 1,717,743 | 1,715,092 | 1,710,644
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Limited Partner [Member] |  |  |
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items] |  |  |
Limited Partners Beginning Balance | 151,864,874 | 151,403,301 | 151,282,879
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 5,623 | 6,140 | 6,409
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued under the Stock Option and Incentive Plan, net | 13,485 | 35,246 | 40,158
Units issued to Boston Properties, Inc. related to Common Stock issued in exchange for OP Units | 188,450 | 420,187 | 73,855
Limited Partners' Ending Balance | 152,072,432 | 151,864,874 | 151,403,301

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- Definition The number of new shares issued in the conversion of stock in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586 + Details
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