CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Net Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), net	Noncontrolling Interests	Total
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 46,458	$ 2,673	$ 4,635,413	$ (1,585,825)	$ (5,609)	$ 3,860	$ 3,096,970
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Net income/(loss) attributable to UDR, Inc.				121,558			121,558
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests						147	147
Contribution of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate						125	125
Long Term Incentive Plan Unit grants/(vestings), net						5,432	5,432
Other comprehensive income/(loss)					2,928		2,928
Issuance/(forfeiture) of common and restricted shares, net		1	437				438
Conversion of Series E Cumulative Convertible Shares	(257)		257
Adjustment for conversion of noncontrolling interest of unitholders in the Operating Partnership and DownREIT Partnership		4	14,540				14,544
Common stock distributions declared ($1.24, $1.29,1.37 per share for the year ended December 31,2017,2018,2019 respectively)				(331,974)			(331,974)
Preferred stock distributions declared-Series E ($1.3288, $1.3968,$ 1.4832, per share for the year ended December 31,2017 ,2018, 2019 respectively)				(3,708)			(3,708)
Adjustment to reflect redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests				(71,096)			(71,096)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	46,201	2,678	4,651,205	(1,871,603)	(2,681)	9,564	2,835,364
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Cumulative effect upon adoption of ASU 2016-09			558	(558)
Net income/(loss) attributable to UDR, Inc.				203,106			203,106
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests						175	175
Contribution of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate						108	108
Repurchase of common shares		(6)	(19,982)				(19,988)
Long Term Incentive Plan Unit grants/(vestings), net						7,305	7,305
Other comprehensive income/(loss)					2,614		2,614
Exercise of stock options, net		8	(23,061)				(23,053)
Issuance/(forfeiture) of common and restricted shares, net		(1)	(507)				(508)
Issuance of common shares through public offering, net		72	299,753				299,825
Adjustment for conversion of noncontrolling interest of unitholders in the Operating Partnership and DownREIT Partnership		4	13,324				13,328
Common stock distributions declared ($1.24, $1.29,1.37 per share for the year ended December 31,2017,2018,2019 respectively)				(348,079)			(348,079)
Preferred stock distributions declared-Series E ($1.3288, $1.3968,$ 1.4832, per share for the year ended December 31,2017 ,2018, 2019 respectively)				(3,868)			(3,868)
Adjustment to reflect redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests				(43,552)			(43,552)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	46,201	2,755	4,920,732	(2,063,996)	(67)	17,152	2,922,777
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
Net income/(loss) attributable to UDR, Inc.				184,965			184,965
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests						125	125
Contribution of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate						125	125
Long Term Incentive Plan Unit grants/(vestings), net						13,370	13,370
Other comprehensive income/(loss)					(10,381)		(10,381)
Issuance/(forfeiture) of common and restricted shares, net			2,088				2,088
Issuance of common shares through public offering, net		158	725,157				725,315
Adjustment for conversion of noncontrolling interest of unitholders in the Operating Partnership and DownREIT Partnership		33	133,998				134,031
Common stock distributions declared ($1.24, $1.29,1.37 per share for the year ended December 31,2017,2018,2019 respectively)				(395,113)			(395,113)
Preferred stock distributions declared-Series E ($1.3288, $1.3968,$ 1.4832, per share for the year ended December 31,2017 ,2018, 2019 respectively)				(4,104)			(4,104)
Adjustment to reflect redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests				(183,884)			(183,884)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 46,201	$ 2,946	$ 5,781,975	$ (2,462,132)	$ (10,448)	$ 30,772	$ 3,389,314