Consolidated Statement of Equity - 9 months ended Sep. 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:
183,020 shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	10,827					10,827						2	10,825
98,511 shares due to exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	5,825					5,825						1	5,824
Issuance of 95,755 partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	5,798																			5,798
Net income	46,180					36,697								36,697						9,483
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	503					374													374	129
Preferred stock distributions				$ (6,188)	$ (3,094)				$ (6,188)	$ (3,094)							$ (6,188)	$ (3,094)
Common stock distributions		$ (29,919)					$ (22,279)								$ (22,279)						$ (7,640)
Common stock distributions			$ (15,049)					$ (11,211)								$ (11,211)						$ (3,838)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 388,132					$ 329,456					$ 180,000	$ 220	$ 344,820	$ (194,659)					$ (925)	$ 58,676