Real Estate Acquisitions , Pro Forma Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Transaction costs	$ 2,399	$ 619	$ 4,263	$ 2,769
Series of Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenues	125,435	113,212	353,734	321,088
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	$ 24,896	$ 4,523	$ 39,675	$ 12,978
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.13	$ 0.99	$ 0.38
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.13	$ 0.99	$ 0.38

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The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

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- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 23

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21917927&loc=d3e1043-128460

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