Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Dividend Declared	Series A Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Series A Preferred Stock Dividend Declared	Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Declared	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Declared	Accumulated Deficit Series A Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Accumulated Deficit Series A Preferred Stock Dividend Declared	Accumulated Deficit Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Accumulated Deficit Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Declared	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Declared	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series A Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series A Preferred Stock Dividend Declared	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Declared	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 293,387 shares of common stock:
157,496 shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	7,148							2	7,146								7,148
135,891 shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	5,883							1	5,882								5,883
Issuance of 196,183 partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	8,877																						8,877
Net income	45,678									36,447							36,447						9,231
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	(273)															(203)	(203)						(70)
Preferred stock distributions:
Preferred stock distributions			(1,600)	(800)	(4,813)	(2,406)						(1,600)	(800)	(4,813)	(2,406)				(1,600)	(800)	(4,813)	(2,406)
Common stock distributions	(22,307)									(16,589)							(16,589)						(5,718)
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Distributions payable common stock ($0.40/share) and distributions payable partnership units ($0.40/unit)		(11,227)									(8,348)							(8,348)						(2,879)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$ 339,286						$ 180,000	$ 209	$ 283,456	$ (170,673)						$ (1,595)	$ 291,397						$ 47,889