Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Mar. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,615,237 and $6,592,019 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | $ 23,156,924 | $ 22,969,110 |
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 237,017 | 237,393 |
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,188,554) and $(1,158,548) at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | (5,665,061) | (5,534,102) |
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $289,737 and $340,642 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 697,369 | 1,668,742 |
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,846 and $10,911 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 51,271 | 77,411 |
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $341,772 and $336,594 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 1,145,066 | 1,122,502 |
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $177,647 and $183,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 622,649 | 640,085 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $45,075 and $13,137 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 129,102 | 33,840 |
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,904,672 and $2,907,590 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 2,904,672 | 2,909,081 |
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,345 and $20,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 239,361 | 236,492 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $15,957 and $23,128 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 260,875 | 336,264 |
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $141,547 and $158,805 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | $ 399,965 | $ 412,084 |
Reddemable deferred stock units, units | 75,834 | 72,966 |
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units) | 154,337,669 | |
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units) | 1,736,531 | |
Excess stock, par value | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
Excess stock, shares authorized | 150,000,000 | 150,000,000 |
Excess stock, shares outstanding | 0 | 0 |
Excess stock, shares issued | 0 | 0 |
Preferred stock, par value | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
Preferred stock, shares authorized | 50,000,000 | 50,000,000 |
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share | $ 0.01 | $ 0.01 |
Common stock, shares authorized | 250,000,000 | 250,000,000 |
Common stock, shares issued | 156,153,100 | 155,797,725 |
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding | 156,074,200 | 155,718,825 |
Treasury common stock at cost, shares | 78,900 | 78,900 |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | | |
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,615,237 and $6,592,019 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | $ 22,781,429 | $ 22,592,301 |
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 237,017 | 237,393 |
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,188,554) and $(1,158,548) at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | (5,557,784) | (5,428,576) |
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $289,737 and $340,642 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 697,369 | 1,668,742 |
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,846 and $10,911 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 51,271 | 77,411 |
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $341,772 and $336,594 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 1,145,066 | 1,122,502 |
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $177,647 and $183,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 622,649 | 640,085 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $45,075 and $13,137 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 129,102 | 33,840 |
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,904,672 and $2,907,590 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 2,904,672 | 2,909,081 |
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,345 and $20,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 239,361 | 236,492 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $15,957 and $23,128 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 260,875 | 336,264 |
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $141,547 and $158,805 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | $ 399,965 | $ 412,084 |
Reddemable deferred stock units, units | 75,834 | 72,966 |
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding | 16,053,640 | 16,037,121 |
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding | 1,525,306 | 1,336,115 |
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units) | 154,337,669 | 153,987,904 |
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding (in units) | 1,736,531 | 1,730,921 |
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member] | | |
Preferred stock, par value | | $ 0.01 |
Preferred stock, shares authorized | | 92,000 |
Preferred stock / units, shares / units issued (in shares / units) | | 80,000 |
Preferred stock / units, shares / units outstanding (in shares / units) | | 80,000 |
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage | | 5.25% |
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share/ Unit | | $ 2,500 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | | |
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,615,237 and $6,592,019 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | $ 6,615,237 | $ 6,592,019 |
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 21,000 | 21,000 |
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,188,554) and $(1,158,548) at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | (1,188,554) | (1,158,548) |
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $289,737 and $340,642 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 289,737 | 340,642 |
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,846 and $10,911 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 5,846 | 10,911 |
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $341,772 and $336,594 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 341,772 | 336,594 |
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $177,647 and $183,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 177,647 | 183,306 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $45,075 and $13,137 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 45,075 | 13,137 |
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,904,672 and $2,907,590 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 2,904,672 | 2,907,590 |
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,345 and $20,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 20,345 | 20,306 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $15,957 and $23,128 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 15,957 | 23,128 |
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $141,547 and $158,805 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 141,547 | 158,805 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Boston Properties Limited Partnership | | |
Real estate, at cost (amounts related to variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $6,615,237 and $6,592,019 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 6,615,237 | 6,592,019 |
Right of use assets - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $21,000 and $21,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 21,000 | 21,000 |
Less: accumulated depreciation (amounts related to VIEs of $(1,188,554) and $(1,158,548) at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | (1,188,554) | (1,158,548) |
Cash and cash equivalents (amounts related to VIEs of $289,737 and $340,642 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 289,737 | 340,642 |
Tenant and other receivables, net (amounts related to VIEs of $5,846 and $10,911 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 5,846 | 10,911 |
Accrued rental income, net (amounts related to VIEs of $341,772 and $336,594 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 341,772 | 336,594 |
Deferred charges, net (amounts related to VIEs of $177,647 and $183,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 177,647 | 183,306 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets (amounts related to VIEs of $45,075 and $13,137 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 45,075 | 13,137 |
Mortgage notes payable, net (amounts related to VIEs of $2,904,672 and $2,907,590 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 2,904,672 | 2,907,590 |
Lease liabilities - finance leases (amounts related to VIEs of $20,345 and $20,306 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 20,345 | 20,306 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (amounts related to VIEs of $15,957 and $23,128 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | 15,957 | 23,128 |
Other liabilities (amounts related to VIEs of $141,547 and $158,805 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively) | $ 141,547 | $ 158,805 |
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock / Unit [Member] | | |
Preferred stock / units, shares / units issued (in shares / units) | | 80,000 |
Preferred stock / units, shares / units outstanding (in shares / units) | | 80,000 |
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage | | 5.25% |
Series B Liquidation Preference Per Share/ Unit | | $ 2,500 |