Equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 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						52,050						2,490			54,540
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									4,957			242			5,199
Issuance and registration of common shares	20		120,130												120,150
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(1,640		)										(1,640		)
Shares issued in exchange for units	1		2,515									(2,516		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						(375		)							(375		)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(3,687		)							3,687			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			1,231												1,231
Dividends on common stock ($0.6600 per share)						(54,146		)							(54,146		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($0.6600 per unit)												(2,458		)	(2,458		)
EQUITY BALANCE JUNE 30, 2012	$	410	$	1,494,172		$	(624,304	)	$	(30,891	)	$	26,576		$	865,963

	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						16,272						563			16,835
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									6,579			230			6,809
Issuance and registration of common shares	21		125,679												125,700
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(2,260		)										(2,260		)
Exercise of stock options	—		38												38
Shares issued in exchange for units	2		2,876									(2,878		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						(235		)							(235		)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(5,189		)							5,189			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			1,686												1,686
Dividends on common stock ($0.6275 per share)						(46,332		)							(46,332		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($0.6275 per unit)												(2,569		)	(2,569		)
EQUITY BALANCE JUNE 30, 2011	$	371	$	1,264,853		$	(605,316	)	$	(42,268	)	$	22,660		$	640,300