Equity Residential (EQR) 10-Q 2019 Q2 Quarterly report

Exhibit 32.1

Equity Residential

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION906OFTHESARBANES-OXLEYACTOF2002

InconnectionwiththeQuarterlyReportofEquityResidential(the“Company”)onForm10-QfortheperiodendingJune 30, 2019 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mark J. Parrell, Chief ExecutiveOfficeroftheCompany,certify,pursuantto18U.S.C.§1350,asadoptedpursuantto§906oftheSarbanes-OxleyAct of 2002, that, to the best of myknowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Mark J. Parrell

Mark J.Parrell

Chief Executive Officer

August 2, 2019