Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Limited Partner	Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	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	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	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Limited Partner
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 530,487				$ 405,049			$ 185,000	$ 238	$ 436,609	$ 39,650	$ (256,448)			$ 0	$ 125,438
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)			0	124,925
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	521,802				400,484			185,000	240	446,301	39,650	(273,559)			2,852	121,318
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	543				543				0	543
Issuance of shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred shares	290				290					290
Net income	17,663				13,502							13,502				4,161
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	(19,651)				(14,165)							(14,165)				(5,486)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	$ 515,835				$ 396,406			$ 185,000	$ 240	$ 447,134	$ 39,650	$ (277,020)			$ 1,402	$ 119,429