Segment Reporting Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 231,848		$ 185,380	$ 460,723	$ 355,673
Operating expenses/Cost of sales	100,596		76,914	191,558	145,409
Net operating income/Gross profit	131,252		108,466	269,165	210,264
Interest and other revenues, net	6,051		5,419	11,576	9,770
Home selling expenses	(2,990)		(2,460)	(6,101)	(4,597)
General and administrative	(19,989)		(16,543)	(37,921)	(30,335)
Transaction costs	(2,437)		(20,979)	(4,823)	(23,700)
Depreciation and amortization	(62,721)		(49,670)	(125,487)	(98,082)
Extinguishment of debt	293	$ 500	0	759	0
Interest	(32,358)		(28,428)	(63,680)	(54,722)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units	(787)		(787)	(1,571)	(1,574)
Other income, net	875		0	1,627	0
Current tax expense	7		(56)	(171)	(284)
Deferred tax benefit	364		0	664	0
Net income / (loss)	16,974		(5,038)	42,519	6,740
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	1,196		1,263	2,370	2,536
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,315		(695)	2,403	(419)
Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	14,463		(5,606)	37,746	4,623
Less: Preferred stock distributions	2,099		2,197	4,278	4,551
Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	12,364		(7,803)	33,468	72	$ 72
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	188,311		147,384	377,584	281,232
Operating expenses/Cost of sales	73,630		52,819	138,607	97,254
Net operating income/Gross profit	114,681		94,565	238,977	183,978
Interest and other revenues, net	6,051		5,419	11,576	9,770
Home selling expenses	0		0	0	0
General and administrative	(17,684)		14,217	(33,405)	(25,991)
Transaction costs	(2,437)		21,098	(4,848)	(23,819)
Depreciation and amortization	(48,189)		35,586	(95,519)	(70,973)
Extinguishment of debt	293		0	759	0
Interest	(32,353)		28,426	(63,672)	(54,715)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units	(787)		787	(1,571)	(1,574)
Other income, net	1,095		0	1,639	0
Current tax expense	58		16	(65)	(203)
Deferred tax benefit	364		0	664	0
Net income / (loss)	20,506		(146)	53,017	16,473
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	1,196		1,263	2,370	2,536
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,506		(374)	2,989	259
Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	17,804		(1,035)	47,658	13,678
Less: Preferred stock distributions	2,099		2,197	4,278	4,551
Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	15,705		(3,232)	43,380	9,127
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	43,537		37,996	83,139	74,441
Operating expenses/Cost of sales	26,966		24,095	52,951	48,155
Net operating income/Gross profit	16,571		13,901	30,188	26,286
Interest and other revenues, net	0		0	0	0
Home selling expenses	(2,990)		2,460	(6,101)	(4,597)
General and administrative	(2,305)		2,326	(4,516)	(4,344)
Transaction costs	0		(119)	25	119
Depreciation and amortization	(14,532)		14,084	(29,968)	(27,109)
Extinguishment of debt	0		0	0	0
Interest	(5)		2	(8)	(7)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units	0		0	0	0
Other income, net	(220)		0	(12)	0
Current tax expense	(51)		40	(106)	(81)
Deferred tax benefit	0		0		0
Net income / (loss)	(3,532)		(4,892)	(10,498)	(9,733)
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	0		0	0	0
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(191)		(321)	(586)	(678)
Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	(3,341)		(4,571)	(9,912)	(9,055)
Less: Preferred stock distributions	0		0	0	0
Net income / (loss) attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	$ (3,341)		$ (4,571)	$ (9,912)	$ (9,055)