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Stockholders' Equity / Partners' Capital (Details) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) yr $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2014 shares | Mar. 27, 2018 $ / shares
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units) | 1,717,743 |  |  |
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding | 152,072,432 |  |  |
Common stock, shares outstanding | 153,790,175 | 153,579,966 |  |
Shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Stock by certain employees | 0 | 11,447 | (21,459) |
Shares of its Common Stock in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units | 190,857 | 424,236 |  |
ATM Program [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
At the market stock offering program, aggregate value of common stock | $ | $ 600,000,000 |  |  |
At Market Stock Offering Program Maximum Length Of Program In Years | yr | 3 |  |  |
ATM program amount issued | $ | $ 0 |  |  |
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, shares outstanding | 80,000 | 80,000 |  |
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage | 5.25% |  |  |
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares | $ 2,500.00 | $ 2,500 |  | $ 2,500.00
Depositary shares of Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, shares outstanding | 8,000,000 |  |  |
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares | $ 25.00 |  |  | $ 25.00
Boston Properties Limited Partnership |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units) | 1,717,743 | 1,715,092 |  |
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding | 152,072,432 | 151,864,874 |  |
Shares of its Common Stock in connection with the redemption of an equal number of OP Units | 190,857 | 424,236 | 80,246 |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, shares outstanding | 80,000 | 80,000 |  |
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share | $ / shares | $ 2,500 | $ 2,500 |  |

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