Segment Information (Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues
Total property revenues									$ 496,266	$ 429,789	$ 397,325	[1]
Management fee income									899	1,017	680	[1]
Total operating revenues									497,165	430,806	398,005	[1]
Net Operating Income									297,076	258,036	226,929	[1]
Discontinued operations NOI included above									(4,136)	(10,824)	(11,059)	[1]
Depreciation and amortization									(126,136)	(110,870)	(98,384)	[1]
Acquisition expense									(1,581)	(3,319)	(2,512)	[1]
Property management expense									(22,084)	(20,700)	(18,035)	[1]
General and administrative expense									(13,762)	(18,123)	(12,354)	[1]
Interest and other non-property income									430	802	903	[1]
Interest expense	(15,773)	(14,698)	(14,170)	(14,110)	(14,734)	(15,183)	(13,845)	(13,653)	(58,751)	(57,415)	(54,632)	[1]
Loss on debt extinguishment									(654)	(755)	0	[1]
Amortization of deferred financing costs									(3,552)	(2,902)	(2,627)	[1]
Net casualty gains (loss) and other settlement proceeds									(6)	(619)	314	[1]
Gain (loss) on sale of non-depreciable assets									45	1,084	0	[1]
Gain on properties contributed to joint ventures									0	0	752	[1]
Loss from real estate joint ventures	(53)	(72)	(67)	(31)	(63)	(107)	(178)	(245)	(223)	(593)	(1,149)	[1]
Discontinued operations									42,260	16,412	2,049	[1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(900)	(1,212)	(1,312)	(1,178)	(1,187)	(660)	(252)	(311)	(4,602)	(2,410)	(1,114)	[1]
Net income attributable to MAA	22,307	30,866	28,160	23,890	18,758	13,791	7,428	8,844	105,223	48,821	29,761	[1]
Large Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues									226,725	213,800	194,912	[1]
Net Operating Income									132,711	122,447	110,548	[1]
Secondary Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues									193,138	187,202	179,692	[1]
Net Operating Income									112,867	108,024	102,771	[1]
Non Same Store And Other
Revenues
Total property revenues									76,403	28,787	22,721	[1]
Net Operating Income									$ 51,498	$ 27,565	$ 13,610	[1]

[1] The 2010 column shows the segment break down based on the 2011 same store portfolios. A comparison using the 2012 same store portfolio would not be comparative due to the nature of the classifications.