Debt Instrument, number of properties securing a debt instument

No definition available.

Name:	sui_DebtInstrumentNumberOfPropertiesSecuringDebtInstument
Namespace Prefix:	sui_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of units in a real estate property owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of real estate owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, primarily a secured borrowing or repurchase agreement, and for which the transferee is not permitted to sell or re-pledge them to an unrelated party.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (b)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7523297&loc=SL6224234-111729

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PledgedAssetsNotSeparatelyReportedRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Debt And Lines Of Credit , Narrative - Collateralized Term Loans (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014 Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company [Member] Rate	Sep. 30, 2014 Properties securing debt [Member] Mortgages [Member] properties sites	Sep. 30, 2014 Properties securing debt [Member] Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] properties sites	Sep. 30, 2014 Jellystone of Western NY, Lake Rudolph & Lake in Wood RV Resorts [Member] Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] Ladder Capital Finance, LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Jellystone of Western NY & Lake Rudolph RV Resorts [Member] Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] Ladder Capital Finance, LLC [Member] Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount		$ 52.6
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				99.0			63.5
Debt Instrument, Term	10 years
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				4.20%				4.56%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date				Feb. 13, 2026
Number of properties securing a debt instument (in properties)					14	101
Number of Units in Real Estate Property					6,659	39,997
Net book value of properties securing collateralized term loans			$ 746.0		$ 194.1