Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Dividend Declared	Dividend Declared Series A Preferred Stock	Dividend Declared Series C Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Declared	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Declared Series A Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Declared Series C Preferred Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Declared	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Declared Series A Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Declared Series C Preferred Stock	Noncontrolling Interest	Noncontrolling Interest Dividend Declared
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 315,126				$ 180,000	$ 206	$ 270,428	$ (172,564)				$ (1,392)	$ 276,678				$ 38,448
Issuance of 71,782 shares of common stock:
39,588 shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	1,790					0	1,790						1,790
32,194 shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	1,133						1,133						1,133
Issuance of 91,352 partnership units	4,184																4,184
Net income	12,711							10,287					10,287				2,424
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	(227)											(169)	(169)				(58)
Preferred stock distributions:
Preferred stock distributions			(800)	(2,406)						(800)	(2,406)				(800)	(2,406)
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Distributions payable common stock ($0.40/share) and distributions payable partnership units ($0.40/unit)		(11,102)							(8,264)					(8,264)				(2,838)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 320,409				$ 180,000	$ 206	$ 273,351	$ (173,747)				$ (1,561)	$ 278,249				$ 42,160