Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Twinbrook Metro Station	Ashbrook Marketplace	Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Twinbrook Metro Station	Limited Partner	Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Twinbrook Metro Station	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Partnership Units in Escrow	Partnership Units in Escrow Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Twinbrook Metro Station	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Twinbrook Metro Station	Noncontrolling Interests Ashbrook Marketplace	Noncontrolling Interests Limited Partner	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 427,533							$ 364,325				$ 185,000	$ 235	$ 420,625	$ 0		$ (241,535)			$ 63,208				$ 0
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	2,840				$ 575			2,840					1	2,839									$ 575
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	323							323						323
Partnership units placed in escrow pursuant to Twinbrook contribution				$ 79,300					$ 79,300							$ 79,300
Net income	12,795							10,262									10,262			2,533
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Preferred stock distributions						$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)			$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)							$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units	(16,706)							(12,488)									(12,488)			(4,218)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	503,862							441,764				185,000	236	423,787	79,300		(246,559)			62,098
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	427,533							364,325				185,000	235	420,625	0		(241,535)			63,208				0
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Net income	45,799
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	529,607							442,765				185,000	237	430,537	79,300		(252,309)			86,842				0
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	503,862							441,764				185,000	236	423,787	79,300		(246,559)			62,098
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	2,855							2,855						2,855
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	705							705						705
Issuance of partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan					585																		585
Stock issued during period, value, acquisitions		$ 21,500	$ 4,320																		$ 21,500	$ 4,320
Net income	16,119							12,746									12,746			3,373
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Preferred stock distributions						(1,149)	(1,650)			(1,149)	(1,650)							(1,149)	(1,650)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units	(17,694)							(13,000)									(13,000)			(4,694)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	529,453							442,271				185,000	236	427,347	79,300		(249,612)			87,182				0
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	2,897							2,897					1	2,896
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	294							294					0	294
Issuance of partnership units pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	615																			615
Net income	16,885							13,138									13,138			3,747
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Preferred stock distributions						(1,148)	(1,650)			(1,148)	(1,650)							(1,148)	(1,650)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units	(17,739)							(13,037)									(13,037)			(4,702)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	529,607							442,765				185,000	237	430,537	79,300		(252,309)			86,842				0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	530,487							405,049				185,000	238	436,609	39,650		(256,448)			125,438				0
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	2,949				653			2,949					1	2,948									653
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	594							594						594
Net income	17,491							13,365									13,365			4,126
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Preferred stock distributions						(1,148)	(1,650)			(1,148)	(1,650)							(1,148)	(1,650)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units	(18,917)							(13,625)									(13,625)			(5,292)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	530,459							405,534				185,000	239	440,151	39,650		(259,506)			124,925				0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	530,487							405,049				185,000	238	436,609	39,650		(256,448)			125,438				0
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Net income	50,001
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	528,317							404,958				185,000	240	445,456	39,650		(268,451)			123,359				3,063
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	530,459							405,534				185,000	239	440,151	39,650		(259,506)			124,925				0
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	2,949				$ 669			2,949					1	2,948									$ 669
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	1,397							1,397						1,397
Net income	16,997							13,016									13,016			3,981
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Preferred stock distributions						(1,148)	(1,650)			(1,148)	(1,650)							(1,148)	(1,650)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units	(19,642)							(14,156)									(14,156)			(5,486)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	530,031							405,942				185,000	240	444,496	39,650		(263,444)			124,089
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	537							537					0	537
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	423							423					0	423
Net income	15,513							11,950									11,950			3,563
Change in unrealized gain on cash flow hedge	4,256							3,063												1,193				3,063
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Preferred stock distributions						$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)			$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)							$ (1,148)	$ (1,650)
Distributions payable, common stock and partnership units	(19,645)							(14,159)									(14,159)			(5,486)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	$ 528,317							$ 404,958				$ 185,000	$ 240	$ 445,456	$ 39,650		$ (268,451)			$ 123,359				$ 3,063