Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 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						82,916						3,702			86,618
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									5,381			1,730			7,111
Issuance and registration of common shares	28		173,934												173,962
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(1,863		)										(1,863		)
Shares issued in exchange for units	2		2,670									(2,672		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						(168		)							(168		)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(4,812		)							4,812			—
Correction of classification of equity accounts (Note 1)			(27,032		)	24,871						2,161			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			1,730												1,730
Dividends on common stock ($1.9800 per share)						(81,813		)				—			(81,813		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($1.9800 per unit)												(3,667		)	(3,667		)
EQUITY BALANCE SEPTEMBER 30, 2012	$	419	$	1,520,250		$	(596,027	)	$	(30,467	)	$	31,197		$	925,372

	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						30,063						1,223			31,286
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges)									7,263			264			7,527
Issuance and registration of common shares	27		170,079												170,106
Shares repurchased and retired	—		(2,471		)										(2,471		)
Exercise of stock options	—		407												407
Shares issued in exchange for units	3		3,001									(3,004		)	—
Redeemable stock fair market value						223									223
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(7,015		)							7,015			—
Amortization of unearned compensation			4,445												4,445
Dividends on common stock ($1.8825 per share)						(70,027		)				—			(70,027		)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units ($1.8825 per unit)												(3,825		)	(3,825		)
EQUITY BALANCE SEPTEMBER 30, 2011	$	378	$	1,310,469		$	(614,762	)	$	(41,584	)	$	23,798		$	678,299