Segment Reporting Results of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 110,651	$ 96,922	$ 217,673	$ 196,204
Operating Expenses/Cost of Sales	47,585	41,924	89,882	81,705
Net operating income/Gross Profit	63,066	54,998	127,791	114,499
Ancillary, interest and other income, net	4,736	3,229	8,895	6,859
General and Administrative Expense	(11,513)	(9,181)	(21,825)	(18,405)
Transaction costs	(1,104)	(1,108)	(1,864)	(2,150)
Depreciation and amortization	(30,045)	(26,064)	(58,934)	(51,326)
Interest	(17,940)	(18,201)	(35,530)	(37,065)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable debt	(806)	(812)	(1,609)	(1,621)
Gain on dispositions of assets	885	0	2,514	1,713
Gain on dispositions of properties, net	885	0	885	0
Distributions from affiliate	400	450	800	850
Provision for state income taxes	(69)	(37)	(138)	(96)
Net income	7,610	3,274	18,471	11,545
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	664	646	1,336	1,219
Less: Preferred return to Series A-3 preferred OP units	46	46	91	76
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	458	33	1,242	443
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	6,442	2,549	15,802	9,807
Less: Series A preferred stock distributions	1,514	1,514	3,028	3,028
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	4,928	1,035	12,774	6,779
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	86,105	75,746	173,602	154,811
Operating Expenses/Cost of Sales	31,272	28,056	60,470	53,758
Net operating income/Gross Profit	54,833	47,690	113,132	101,053
Ancillary, interest and other income, net	4,736	3,229	8,895	6,859
General and Administrative Expense	(8,393)	(6,369)	16,206	13,159
Transaction costs	(1,104)	(1,108)	1,856	2,150
Depreciation and amortization	(18,713)	(17,410)	37,069	34,206
Interest	(17,933)	(18,181)	35,521	36,736
Interest on mandatorily redeemable debt	(806)	(812)	(1,609)	(1,621)
Gain on dispositions of assets	(647)	0
Gain on dispositions of properties, net			(647)	0
Distributions from affiliate	400	450	800	850
Provision for state income taxes	(69)	(37)	(138)	(96)
Net income	12,304	7,452	29,781	20,794
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	797	335	2,122	1,231
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	10,797	6,425	26,232	18,268
Less: Series A preferred stock distributions	1,514	1,514	3,028	3,028
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	9,283	4,911	23,204	15,240
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	24,546	21,176	44,071	41,393
Operating Expenses/Cost of Sales	16,313	13,868	29,412	27,947
Net operating income/Gross Profit	8,233	7,308	14,659	13,446
Ancillary, interest and other income, net	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	(3,120)	(2,812)	5,619	5,246
Transaction costs	0	0	8	0
Depreciation and amortization	(11,332)	(8,654)	21,865	17,120
Interest	(7)	(20)	9	329
Interest on mandatorily redeemable debt	0	0	0
Gain on dispositions of assets	1,532	0
Gain on dispositions of properties, net			1,532	0
Distributions from affiliate	0	0	0	0
Provision for state income taxes	0	0	0	0
Net income	(4,694)	(4,178)	(11,310)	(9,249)
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(339)	(302)	(880)	(788)
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	(4,355)	(3,876)	(10,430)	(8,461)
Less: Series A preferred stock distributions	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	(4,355)	(3,876)	(10,430)	(8,461)
Series A-1 Preferred OP Units [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	664	646	1,336	1,219
Series A-1 Preferred OP Units [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	664	646	1,336	1,219
Series A-1 Preferred OP Units [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	0	0	0	0
Series A-3 Preferred OP Units [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Preferred return to Series A-3 preferred OP units	46	46	91	76
Series A-3 Preferred OP Units [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Preferred return to Series A-3 preferred OP units	46	46	91	76
Series A-3 Preferred OP Units [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Less: Preferred return to Series A-3 preferred OP units	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0