<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246991-18-000127.txt : 20181001
<SEC-HEADER>0001246991-18-000127.hdr.sgml : 20181001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20181001154129
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246991-18-000127
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20181001
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20181001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LUSTIG MATTHEW J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001203367

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13087
		FILM NUMBER:		181097366

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LAZARD FRERES REAL ESTATE INVESTORS LLC
		STREET 2:		30 ROCKEFELLER PLZA 50TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_153842287355335.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203367</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUSTIG MATTHEW J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LAZARD FRERES REAL ESTATE INVESTORS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>204.12</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>123.09</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>204.12</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5758.87</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </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 (the &quot;2012 Plan&quot;) 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 35.18 Phantom Stock Units acquired as quarterly dividend equivalent rights on July 31, 2018. The rights were granted as a component of the Phantom Stock Units that were awarded under the Second Amendment and Restatement of the Boston Properties, Inc. 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan or, following May 15, 2012, under the 2012 Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reflects an increase of 2.41 Phantom Stock Units to correct an administrative error on the Reporting Person's Form 4s filed on April 2, 2018 and July 2, 2018.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kelli A. DiLuglio, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
