2.4.0.82407402 - Disclosure - Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (Details)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$I2013Q2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000912593instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00rateStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2009/utrRateutreg0usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$I2012Q4http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000912593instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00rateStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2009/utrRateutreg0usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 3us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]2false 4sui_VariableInterestEntitiesConsolidatedInvestmentPropertynetsui_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse5596200055962USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse5632600056326USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryVariable Interest Entities, Consolidated, Investment Property, netNo definition available.false2Investment Property, net3false 4sui_VariableInterestEntitiesConsolidatedOtherAssetssui_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse42860004286falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse45980004598falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryVariable Interest Entities, Consolidated, Other AssetsNo definition available.false2Other Assets4false 4us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssetsus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse6024800060248falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6092400060924falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (bb) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880789&loc=d3e5710-111685 true2Total Assets5false 4sui_VariableInterestEntitiesConsolidatedDebtsui_falsecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse4555500045555falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4590000045900falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryVariable Interest Entities, Consolidated, DebtNo definition available.false2Debt6false 4sui_VariableInterestEntitiesConsolidatedOtherLiabilitiessui_falsecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse40700004070falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse17730001773falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryVariable Interest Entities, Consolidated, Other LiabilitiesNo definition available.false2Other Liabilities7false 4sui_VariableInterestEntitiesConsolidatedNoncontrollingInterestsui_falsecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse-627000-627falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-508000-508falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryVariable Interest Entities, Consolidated, Noncontrolling InterestNo definition available.false2Noncontrolling Interest8false 4sui_VariableInterestEntitiesConsolidatedTotalLiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquitysui_falsecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse4899800048998USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse4716500047165USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryVariable Interest Entities, Consolidated, Total Liabilities and Stockholder's EquityNo definition available.true2Total Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity9false 4sui_VariableInterestEntityasaPercentageofConsolidatedAssetssui_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truetruefalse0.0310.031falsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0350.035falsefalsefalsenum:percentItemTypepureVariable Interest Entity as a Percentage of Consolidated AssetsNo definition available.false256VIE as a Percentage of Consolidated Assets10false 4sui_VariableInterestEntityasaPercentageofConsolidatedLiabilitiessui_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truetruefalse0.0340.034falsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0310.031falsefalsefalsenum:percentItemTypepureVariable Interest Entity as a Percentage of Consolidated LiabilitiesNo definition available.false256VIE as a Percentage of Consolidated LiabilitiesfalseConsolidated Variable Interest Entities (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.suncommunities.com/role/ConsolidatedVariableInterestEntitiesDetails210