Quarterly Financial Information Schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Total revenues	$ 301,819	$ 362,443	$ 312,445	$ 287,330	$ 274,003	$ 323,413	$ 271,434	$ 257,975			$ 1,264,037	$ 1,126,825	$ 982,570
Total expenses	293,835	305,989	272,273	252,759	257,162	273,119	245,125	221,871			1,124,856	997,277	909,869
Income Before Other Items	7,984	56,454	40,172	34,571	16,841	50,294	26,309	36,104			139,181	129,548	72,701
Net income attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	$ 28,547	$ 57,002	$ 40,385	$ 34,331	$ 9,039	$ 46,060	$ 20,408	$ 29,986	$ 161,553	$ 107,229	$ 161,553	$ 107,229	$ 72,183
Earnings per share, Basic	$ 0.31	$ 0.63	$ 0.46	$ 0.40	$ 0.11	$ 0.56	$ 0.25	$ 0.38	$ 1.80	$ 1.29	$ 1.80	$ 1.29	$ 0.85
Earnings per share, Diluted	$ 0.31	$ 0.63	$ 0.46	$ 0.40	$ 0.11	$ 0.56	$ 0.25	$ 0.38	$ 1.80	$ 1.29	$ 1.80	$ 1.29	$ 0.85