Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2015 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Dividend Distributions Payable	Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Distributions Payable	Accumulated Deficit Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Accumulated Deficit Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Distributions Payable	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Noncontrolling Interest	Noncontrolling Interest Dividend Distributions Payable
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 339,257				$ 180,000	$ 209	$ 287,995	$ (173,774)				$ (1,894)	$ 292,536				$ 46,721
Issuance of 230,621 shares of common stock:
153,897 shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	8,013					2	8,011						8,013
76,724 shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	4,225					1	4,224						4,225
Issuance of 78,101 partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	4,060																4,060
Net income	38,846							31,218					31,218				7,628
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	(510)											(378)	(378)				(132)
Series C preferred stock distributions			$ (6,188)	$ (3,093)						$ (6,188)	$ (3,093)				$ (6,188)	$ (3,093)
Common stock distributions	(24,378)							(18,159)					(18,159)				(6,219)
Distributions payable common stock ($0.43/share) and distributions payable partnership units ($0.43/unit)		$ (12,235)							$ (9,106)					$ (9,106)				$ (3,129)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 347,997				$ 180,000	$ 212	$ 300,230	$ (179,102)				$ (2,272)	$ 299,068				$ 48,929