MAA Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Line Items]
Net income attributable to MAA	$ 14,866,000	$ 21,180,000
Parent Company [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,077,146,000	962,313,000	3,113,537,000	945,110,000
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	15,714,000	22,005,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax	2,727,000	4,363,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	227,000	22,058,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	(285,000)	(673,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	1,775,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units	0	0
Stock Issued in Exchange for Redeemable Stock	998,000
Effect On Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Due To Fair Value Option And Measurement	(631,000)	(319,000)
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	0
Amortization Unearned Compensation	948,000	630,000
Dividends, Common Stock	(54,792,000)	(29,674,000)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(3,072,000)	(1,187,000)
Parent Company [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	749,000	426,000	747,000	422,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	1,000	3,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	1,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units	0	1,000
Parent Company [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,604,117,000	1,565,755,000	3,599,549,000	1,542,999,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	226,000	22,055,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	285,000	(673,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	1,774,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units	744,000	442,000
Stock Issued in Exchange for Redeemable Stock	998,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	163,000	302,000
Amortization Unearned Compensation	948,000	630,000
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(694,150,000)	(612,128,000)	(653,593,000)	(603,315,000)
Net income attributable to MAA	14,866,000	21,180,000
Effect On Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Due To Fair Value Option And Measurement	631,000	(319,000)
Dividends, Common Stock	54,792,000	29,674,000
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,691,000	(21,869,000)	108,000	(26,054,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax	2,583,000	4,185,000
Parent Company [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	163,739,000	30,129,000	166,726,000	31,058,000
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	848,000	825,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax	144,000	178,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Units	(744,000)	(443,000)
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	(163,000)	(302,000)
Dividends, Common Stock	0	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	$ (3,072,000)	$ (1,187,000)