Segment Reporting Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012 Real Property Operations Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Real Property Operations Segment [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Real Property Operations Segment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Real Property Operations Segment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Real Property Operations Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Real Property Operations Segment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Seasonal RV Revenue Approximation										$ 9,800,000
Seasonal RV Rental Revenue Recognized, Percentage						24.00%	13.00%	18.00%	45.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Profit (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues	80,200,000	67,401,000			64,296,000				53,836,000		15,904,000	13,565,000
Operating expenses/Cost of sales	32,495,000	27,737,000			20,898,000				17,573,000		11,597,000	10,164,000
Net operating income/Gross profit	47,705,000	39,664,000			43,398,000				36,263,000		4,307,000	3,401,000
Adjustments to arrive at net income (loss):
Other revenues	2,928,000	2,313,000			2,665,000				2,019,000		263,000	294,000
General and administrative	(7,267,000)	(6,451,000)			(5,058,000)				(4,478,000)		(2,209,000)	(1,973,000)
Acquisition related costs	(164,000)	(249,000)			(164,000)				(249,000)		0	0
Depreciation and amortization	(19,868,000)	(16,679,000)			(12,961,000)				(11,121,000)		(6,907,000)	(5,558,000)
Interest expense	(17,638,000)	(16,232,000)			(17,561,000)				(16,022,000)		(77,000)	(210,000)
Distributions from affiliates	750,000	350,000			750,000				350,000		0	0
Provision for state income taxes	(53,000)	(131,000)			(53,000)				(131,000)		0	0
Net income	6,393,000	2,585,000			11,016,000				6,631,000		(4,623,000)	(4,046,000)
Less: Preferred return to Preferred OP units	579,000	0			579,000				0			0
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	437,000	185,000			857,000				555,000		(420,000)	(370,000)
Identifiable assets:
Investment property, net	1,229,208,000		1,196,606,000		1,046,253,000	1,028,575,000				1,028,575,000	182,955,000		168,031,000
Cash and cash equivalents	15,975,000	4,857,000	5,857,000	8,420,000	16,228,000	5,972,000				5,972,000	(253,000)		(115,000)
Inventory of manufactured homes	5,750,000		5,832,000		0	0				0	5,750,000		5,832,000
Notes and other receivables	112,932,000		114,884,000		107,281,000	109,436,000				109,436,000	5,651,000		5,448,000
Other assets	44,151,000		44,795,000		40,579,000	41,843,000				41,843,000	3,572,000		2,952,000
TOTAL ASSETS	1,408,016,000		1,367,974,000		1,210,341,000	1,185,826,000				1,185,826,000	197,675,000		182,148,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	$ 5,377,000	$ 2,400,000			$ 9,580,000				$ 6,076,000		$ (4,203,000)	$ (3,676,000)