Segment Reporting Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	$ 310,302	$ 287,330
Home selling expenses	(3,992)	(3,324)
General and administrative expenses	(25,517)	(21,887)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(3,279)	(653)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,041)	(1,094)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(606)	(782)
Gain / (loss) on remeasurement of marketable securities (see Note 14)	(28,647)	267
Gain / (loss) on foreign currency translation	(17,479)	1,965
Distributions from Affiliate	52	388
Loss on Remeasurement of Investment	(2,191)	0
Other expense, net	(302)	(67)
Loss on Remeasurement of Notes Receivable	(2,112)	0
Deferred tax benefit	130	217
Net Income / (Loss)	(15,478)	37,127
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	1,570	1,323
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(962)	1,041
Net Income / (Loss) Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	(16,086)	34,763
Less: Preferred stock distributions	0	432
Net Income / (Loss) Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. Common Stockholders	(16,086)	34,331
Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	254,243	233,741
Net Income / (Loss)	(5,758)	41,605
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	1,570	1,323
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(555)	1,259
Net Income / (Loss) Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	(6,773)	39,023
Less: Preferred stock distributions	0	432
Net Income / (Loss) Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. Common Stockholders	(6,773)	38,591
Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	56,059	53,589
Net Income / (Loss)	(9,720)	(4,478)
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	0	0
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(407)	(218)
Net Income / (Loss) Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc.	(9,313)	(4,260)
Less: Preferred stock distributions	0	0
Net Income / (Loss) Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. Common Stockholders	(9,313)	(4,260)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	304,039	278,850
Operating expenses / Cost of sales	124,241	114,449
Net Operating Income / Gross Profit	179,798	164,401
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	247,980	225,261
Operating expenses / Cost of sales	88,715	80,340
Net Operating Income / Gross Profit	159,265	144,921
Operating Segments [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	56,059	53,589
Operating expenses / Cost of sales	35,526	34,109
Net Operating Income / Gross Profit	20,533	19,480
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	6,263	8,480
Home selling expenses	(3,992)	(3,324)
General and administrative expenses	(25,517)	(21,887)
Depreciation and amortization	(83,689)	(76,556)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(3,279)	(653)
Interest expense	(32,416)	(34,014)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,041)	(1,094)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(606)	(782)
Gain / (loss) on remeasurement of marketable securities (see Note 14)	(28,647)	267
Gain / (loss) on foreign currency translation	(17,479)	1,965
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	52	388
Loss on Remeasurement of Investment	(2,191)	0
Other expense, net	(302)	(67)
Loss on Remeasurement of Notes Receivable	(2,112)	0
Current tax expense	(450)	(214)
Deferred tax benefit	130	217
Segment Reconciling Items [Member] | Real Property Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest and other revenues, net	6,263	8,480
Home selling expenses	0	0
General and administrative expenses	(22,556)	(19,234)
Depreciation and amortization	(62,706)	(58,245)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(3,279)	(653)
Interest expense	(32,408)	(34,010)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,041)	(1,094)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(606)	(782)
Gain / (loss) on remeasurement of marketable securities (see Note 14)	(28,647)	267
Gain / (loss) on foreign currency translation	(17,462)	1,964
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	0	0
Loss on Remeasurement of Investment	0	0
Other expense, net	(303)	(104)
Loss on Remeasurement of Notes Receivable	(2,112)	0
Current tax expense	(296)	(122)
Deferred tax benefit	130	217
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	(3,992)	(3,324)
General and administrative expenses	(2,961)	(2,653)
Depreciation and amortization	(20,983)	(18,311)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0
Interest expense	(8)	(4)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	0	0
Catastrophic weather related charges	0	0
Gain / (loss) on remeasurement of marketable securities (see Note 14)	0	0
Gain / (loss) on foreign currency translation	(17)	1
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties	52	388
Loss on Remeasurement of Investment	(2,191)	0
Other expense, net	1	37
Loss on Remeasurement of Notes Receivable	0	0
Current tax expense	(154)	(92)
Deferred tax benefit	$ 0	$ 0