Segment Reporting Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	$ 287,330	$ 257,975
Home selling expenses	(3,324)	(3,290)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(653)	(196)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,094)	(619)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(782)	(2,213)
Remeasurement of marketable securities	267	0
Distributions from Affiliate	344	(59)
Other income / (expense), net	1,898	(2,617)
Deferred tax benefit	217	347
Net Income	37,127	33,601
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	1,323	1,080
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,041	2,094
Net Income Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	34,763	30,427
Less: Preferred stock distributions	432	441
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	34,331	29,986
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	233,741	210,055
Net Income	41,605	39,554
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	1,323	1,080
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,259	2,394
Net Income Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	39,023	36,080
Less: Preferred stock distributions	432	441
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	38,591	35,639
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	53,589	47,920
Net Income	(4,478)	(5,953)
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	0	0
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(218)	(300)
Net Income Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	(4,260)	(5,653)
Less: Preferred stock distributions	0	0
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. common stockholders	(4,260)	(5,653)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	278,850	251,699
Operating expenses/Cost of sales	114,405	102,647
Net operating income/Gross profit	164,445	149,052
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	225,261	203,779
Operating expenses/Cost of sales	80,340	70,849
Net operating income/Gross profit	144,921	132,930
Operating Segments [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	53,589	47,920
Operating expenses/Cost of sales	34,065	31,798
Net operating income/Gross profit	19,524	16,122
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	8,480	6,276
Home selling expenses	(3,324)	(3,290)
General and administrative	(21,887)	(19,757)
Depreciation and amortization	(76,556)	(66,437)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(653)	(196)
Interest	(34,014)	(31,138)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,094)	(619)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(782)	2,213
Remeasurement of marketable securities	267	0
Distributions from Affiliate	344	(59)
Other income / (expense), net	1,898	(2,617)
Current tax expense	(214)	(174)
Deferred tax benefit	217	347
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	8,480	6,276
Home selling expenses	0	0
General and administrative	(19,234)	(17,187)
Depreciation and amortization	(58,245)	(50,508)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(653)	(196)
Interest	(34,010)	(31,134)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,094)	(619)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(782)	2,357
Remeasurement of marketable securities	267	0
Distributions from Affiliate	0	0
Other income / (expense), net	1,860	(2,616)
Current tax expense	(122)	(96)
Deferred tax benefit	217	347
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	0	0
Home selling expenses	(3,324)	(3,290)
General and administrative	(2,653)	(2,570)
Depreciation and amortization	(18,311)	(15,929)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0
Interest	(4)	(4)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	0	0
Catastrophic weather related charges	0	(144)
Remeasurement of marketable securities	0	0
Distributions from Affiliate	344	(59)
Other income / (expense), net	38	(1)
Current tax expense	(92)	(78)
Deferred tax benefit	$ 0	$ 0