Segment Information (Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues
Discontinued operations									$ 82,002,000	$ 48,621,000	$ 22,529,000
Parent Company [Member]
Revenues
Total property revenues									634,087,000	474,989,000	429,789,000	[1]
Management fee income									647,000	899,000	1,017,000	[1]
Total operating revenues									634,734,000	475,888,000	430,806,000	[1]
Net operating income									389,012,000	297,076,000	258,036,000	[1]
Discontinued operations NOI included above									(8,239,000)	(16,236,000)	(22,834,000)	[1]
Depreciation and amortization									(186,979,000)	(121,211,000)	(106,009,000)	[1]
Acquisition expense									(1,393,000)	(1,581,000)	(3,319,000)	[1]
Property management expense									(23,083,000)	(21,281,000)	(19,973,000)	[1]
General and administrative expense									(15,569,000)	(13,762,000)	(18,123,000)	[1]
Merger related expenses									(32,403,000)	0	0
Integration costs									(5,102,000)	0	0
Interest and other non-property income									488,000	430,000	802,000	[1]
Interest expense	(30,258,000)	(14,923,000)	(15,189,000)	(15,545,000)	(15,583,000)	(14,507,000)	(13,971,000)	(13,876,000)	(75,915,000)	(57,937,000)	(56,383,000)	[1]
Loss on debt extinguishment/modification									(426,000)	(654,000)	(755,000)	[1]
Amortization of deferred financing costs									(3,063,000)	(3,552,000)	(2,902,000)	[1]
Net casualty (loss) gain after insurance and other settlement proceeds									(143,000)	(6,000)	(619,000)	[1]
Income tax expense									(893,000)	(803,000)	(727,000)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable assets									0	45,000	1,084,000	[1]
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	177,000	60,000	47,000	54,000	(53,000)	(72,000)	(67,000)	(31,000)	338,000	(223,000)	(593,000)	[1]
Discontinued operations									82,002,000	48,621,000	22,529,000	[1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	538,000	(1,772,000)	(1,939,000)	(825,000)	(900,000)	(1,212,000)	(1,312,000)	(1,178,000)	(3,998,000)	(4,602,000)	(2,410,000)	[1]
Net income attributable to MAA	(9,272,000)	44,284,000	59,089,000	21,180,000	22,307,000	30,866,000	28,160,000	23,890,000	115,281,000	105,223,000	48,821,000	[1]
Parent Company [Member] | Large Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues									256,141,000	243,721,000	213,800,000	[1]
Net operating income									152,725,000	143,060,000	122,447,000	[1]
Parent Company [Member] | Secondary Market Same Store
Revenues
Total property revenues									207,572,000	201,834,000	187,202,000	[1]
Net operating income									123,787,000	119,764,000	108,024,000	[1]
Parent Company [Member] | Non Same Store And Other
Revenues
Total property revenues									170,374,000	29,434,000	28,787,000	[1]
Net operating income									$ 112,500,000	$ 34,252,000	$ 27,565,000	[1]

[1] The 2011 column shows the segment break down based on the 2012 same store portfolios. A comparison using the 2013 same store portfolio would not be comparative due to the nature of the classifications.