Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2017 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Dividend Paid	Dividend Distributions Payable	Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Paid	Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Paid	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Distributions Payable	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Paid	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Paid	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Distributions Payable	Accumulated Deficit Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Paid	Accumulated Deficit Series C Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest	Noncontrolling Interest Dividend Paid	Noncontrolling Interest Dividend Distributions Payable
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 373,249					$ 318,505					$ 180,000	$ 217	$ 328,171	$ (188,584)					$ (1,299)	$ 54,744
Issuance of common stock:
97,289 shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	5,906					5,906						1	5,905
75,971 shares due to exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	4,420					4,420						1	4,419
Issuance of 79,734 partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	4,866																			4,866
Net income	31,795					25,214								25,214						6,581
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	332					247													247	85
Preferred stock distributions				$ (3,094)	$ (3,094)				$ (3,094)	$ (3,094)							$ (3,094)	$ (3,094)
Common stock distributions		$ (14,914)					$ (11,104)								$ (11,104)						$ (3,810)
Common stock distributions			$ (15,005)					$ (11,175)								$ (11,175)						$ (3,830)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 384,461					$ 325,825					$ 180,000	$ 219	$ 338,495	$ (191,837)					$ (1,052)	$ 58,636