Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]

Total Equity and its Components

	Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. Shareholders
	Common Stock Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Equity
EQUITY BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2011	$	389	$	1,375,623		$	(621,833	)	$	(35,848	)	$	25,131		$	743,462
Net income						23,890						1,178			25,068
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									4,048			200			4,248
Issuance and registration of common shares	20		120,123												120,143
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(1,415		)										(1,415		)
Shares issued in exchange for units	—		28									(28		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						(293		)							(293		)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(3,990		)							3,990			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			814												814
Dividends on common stock ($0.6600 per share)						(27,030		)							(27,030		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($0.6600 per unit)												(1,279		)	(1,279		)
EQUITY BALANCE MARCH 31, 2012	$	409	$	1,491,183		$	(625,266	)	$	(31,800	)	$	29,192		$	863,718

	Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. Shareholders
	Common Stock Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interest			Total Equity
EQUITY BALANCE DECEMBER 31, 2010	$	348	$	1,142,023		$	(575,021	)	$	(48,847	)	$	22,125		$	540,628
Net income						8,844						311			9,155
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									7,208			253			7,461
Issuance and registration of common shares	15		91,402												91,417
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(1,939		)										(1,939		)
Exercise of stock options	—		26												26
Shares issued in exchange for units	2		2,069									(2,071		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						(43		)							(43		)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(3,955		)							3,955			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			844												844
Dividends on common stock ($0.6275 per share)						(22,971		)							(22,971		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($0.6275 per unit)												(1,310		)	(1,310		)
EQUITY BALANCE MARCH 31, 2011	$	365	$	1,230,470		$	(589,191	)	$	(41,639	)	$	23,263		$	623,268