Segment Reporting Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	$ 603,863	$ 303,266	$ 1,045,878	$ 613,568
Brokerage commissions and other, net	6,939	3,274	12,899	7,187
General and administrative expense	(45,127)	(26,527)	(83,330)	(51,876)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(355)	566	(2,769)	(40)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(8,108)	(1,930)	(8,108)	(5,209)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,041)	(1,042)	(2,077)	(2,083)
Remeasurement Of Marketable Securities	27,494	24,519	31,155	(4,128)
Gain / (loss) on foreign currency translation	(264)	10,374	(239)	(7,105)
Other expense, net	(660)	(821)	(1,759)	(1,793)
Loss on Remeasurement of Notes Receivable	93	246	469	(1,866)
Distributions from Affiliate	794	92	1,965	144
Loss on Remeasurement of Investment	(115)	1,132	(11)	(1,059)
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(66)	112	81	(242)
Net Income	120,849	63,355	148,790	47,877
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	3,035	1,584	5,899	3,154
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests			7,339	1,899
Net Income Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. Common Stockholders	110,770	58,910	135,552	42,824
RV
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	170,974	81,660	265,979	166,678
MH
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	277,142	221,606	528,011	446,890
Marinas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	155,747		251,888
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	594,205	297,357	1,027,629	601,396
Property operating expenses	290,511	127,820	503,493	255,551
Operating Income (Loss), Total	303,694	169,537	524,136	345,845
Operating Segments [Member] | Home Sales and Home Rentals Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales		79,496		162,374
Property operating expenses		44,389		87,049
Operating Segments [Member] | RV
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	166,753		258,619
Property operating expenses	85,968		138,064
Operating Income (Loss), Total	80,785	35,107	120,555	75,325
Operating Segments [Member] | MH
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	271,720	217,861	517,690	439,022
Property operating expenses	111,628	83,431	208,318	168,502
Operating Income (Loss), Total	160,092	134,430	309,372	270,520
Operating Segments [Member] | Marinas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue From Home Sales	155,732		251,320
Property operating expenses	92,915		157,111
Operating Income (Loss), Total	62,817		94,209
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest income	2,719	2,635	5,350	4,985
Brokerage commissions and other, net	6,939	3,274	12,899	7,187
General and administrative expense	(45,127)	(26,527)	(83,330)	(51,876)
Catastrophic weather related charges	(355)	566	(2,769)	(40)
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Expenses and Losses Recognized	201	0	(1,031)	0
Depreciation and amortization	(126,423)	(87,265)	(249,727)	(170,954)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(8,108)	(1,930)	(8,108)	(5,209)
Interest expense	(37,681)	(31,428)	(77,198)	(63,844)
Interest on mandatorily redeemable preferred OP units / equity	(1,041)	(1,042)	(2,077)	(2,083)
Remeasurement Of Marketable Securities	27,494	24,519	31,155	(4,128)
Gain / (loss) on foreign currency translation	(264)	10,374	(239)	(7,105)
Other expense, net	(660)	(821)	(1,759)	(1,793)
Loss on Remeasurement of Notes Receivable	93	246	469	(1,866)
Distributions from Affiliate	794	92	1,965	144
Loss on Remeasurement of Investment	(115)	1,132	(11)	(1,059)
Current tax expense	(1,245)	(119)	(1,016)	(569)
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(66)	112	81	242
Net Income	120,849	63,355	148,790	47,877
Less: Preferred return to Series A-1 preferred OP units	3,035	1,584
Less: Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	7,044	2,861
Net Income Attributable to Sun Communities, Inc. Common Stockholders	$ 110,770	$ 58,910	$ 135,552	$ 42,824