Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Dividend Distributions Payable	Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Distributions Payable	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Dividend Distributions Payable	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividend Distributions Payable	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Dividend Distributions Payable
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 425,220					$ 355,912					$ 180,000	$ 227	$ 384,533	$ (208,593)					$ (255)	$ 69,308
Issuance of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	6,171					6,171						1	6,170
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options, director share grant and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	420					420						1	419
Issuance of partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	705																			705
Net income	17,077					13,447								13,447						3,630
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	(46)					(34)													(34)	(12)
Preferred stock distributions:
Preferred stock distributions			$ (1,805)	$ (1,148)				$ (1,805)	$ (1,148)							$ (1,805)	$ (1,148)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units		$ (16,263)					$ (12,108)								$ (12,108)						$ (4,155)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	430,331					360,855					180,000	229	391,122	(210,207)					(289)	69,476
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	443,356					374,981					185,000	232	410,926	(221,177)					0	68,375
Issuance of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	4,081					4,081						1	4,080
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options, director share grant and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	956					956						0	956
Issuance of partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	734																			734
Net income	16,829					13,264								13,264						3,565
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	0
Preferred stock distributions:
Preferred stock distributions				$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)				$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)							$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units		$ (16,552)					$ (12,364)								$ (12,364)						$ (4,188)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 446,606					$ 378,120					$ 185,000	$ 233	$ 415,962	$ (223,075)					$ 0	$ 68,486