Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Limited Partner	Series D Cumulative Redeemable, 30,000 shares issued and outstanding	Series E Cumulative Redeemable, 44,000 shares issued and outstanding	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series D Cumulative Redeemable, 30,000 shares issued and outstanding	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series E Cumulative Redeemable, 44,000 shares issued and outstanding	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, 30,000 shares issued and outstanding	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings Series E Cumulative Redeemable, 44,000 shares issued and outstanding	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
Shares due to share grants, exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	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, 2021	530,487				405,049			185,000	238	436,609	39,650	(256,448)			0	125,438
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)			3,063	123,359
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2022	530,459				405,534			185,000	239	440,151	39,650	(259,506)			0	124,925
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	2,949	$ 669			2,949				1	2,948							$ 669
Shares due to share grants, exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	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)			0	124,089
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	537				537					537
Shares due to share grants, exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	423				423					423
Net income	15,513				11,950							11,950				3,563
Change in unrealized gain/loss on cash flow hedge	4,256				3,063										3,063	1,193
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)			3,063	123,359
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					543
Shares due to share grants, exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	290				290					290
Net income	17,663				13,502							13,502				4,161
Change in unrealized gain/loss on cash flow hedge	(2,014)				(1,450)										(1,450)	(564)
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
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:
Net income	51,563
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	511,333				393,667			185,000	241	449,076	39,650	(285,024)			4,724	117,666
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2023	515,835				396,406			185,000	240	447,134	39,650	(277,020)			1,402	119,429
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	544				544				0	544
Shares due to share grants, exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	553				553					553
Net income	17,189				13,162							13,162				4,027
Change in unrealized gain/loss on cash flow hedge	2,401				1,729										1,729	672
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	(19,679)				(14,193)							(14,193)				(5,486)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	514,044				395,402			185,000	240	448,231	39,650	(280,850)			3,131	118,642
Issuance of shares of common stock:
Issuance of shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	555				555				1	554
Shares due to share grants, exercise of stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	291				291				0	291
Net income	16,711				12,819							12,819				3,892
Change in unrealized gain/loss on cash flow hedge	2,211				1,593										1,593	618
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	(19,681)				(14,195)							(14,195)				(5,486)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 511,333				$ 393,667			$ 185,000	$ 241	$ 449,076	$ 39,650	$ (285,024)			$ 4,724	$ 117,666