Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - 3 months ended Mar. 31, 2016 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Dividend Distributions Payable	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 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 Payable	Noncontrolling Interest	Noncontrolling Interest Dividend Distributions Payable
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 353,727			$ 180,000	$ 213	$ 305,008	$ (180,091)			$ (1,802)	$ 303,328			$ 50,399
Issuance of common stock:
54,280 shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	2,669					2,669					2,669
14,827 shares due to exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	897					897					897
Issuance of 32,769 partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	1,613													1,613
Net income	16,374						12,948				12,948			3,426
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	(688)									(511)	(511)			(177)
Series C preferred stock distributions			$ (3,094)						$ (3,094)				$ (3,094)
Distributions payable common stock ($0.47/share) and distributions payable partnership units ($0.47/unit)		$ (13,476)						$ (10,027)				$ (10,027)			$ (3,449)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 358,022			$ 180,000	$ 213	$ 308,574	$ (180,264)			$ (2,313)	$ 306,210			$ 51,812