Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 234,199	$ 220,988
Other property revenues	23,612	22,402
Total property revenues	257,811	243,390
Management fee income	0	97
Total operating revenues	257,811	243,487
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	25,653	24,909
Building repairs and maintenance	6,622	6,748
Real estate taxes and insurance	33,192	31,131
Utilities	22,028	21,548
Landscaping	5,392	5,408
Other operating	7,507	7,619
Depreciation and amortization	73,112	90,013
Total property operating expenses	173,506	187,376
Acquisition expense	339	11
Property management expenses	8,493	7,011
General and administrative expenses	6,566	4,342
Merger related expenses	0	2,076
Integration related expenses	0	3,842
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	68,907	38,829
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	(157)	160
Interest expense	(29,931)	(30,676)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(3,376)	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(917)	(1,311)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(19)	(10)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	30,228	2,564
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	557
Income before income tax expense	64,735	10,113
Income tax expense	(510)	(270)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	64,225	9,843
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	19	(24)
Income from continuing operations	64,244	9,819
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	433	416
Loss from Insurance Settlement and Other, Discontinued Operations	0	(2)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	5,481
Consolidated net income	64,677	15,714
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,410	848
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	61,267	14,866
Earnings per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.12
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.08
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.20
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.12
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.08
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.20
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.7700	$ 0.7300
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.7700	$ 0.7300
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	234,199	220,988
Other property revenues	23,612	22,402
Total property revenues	257,811	243,390
Management fee income	0	97
Total operating revenues	257,811	243,487
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	25,653	24,909
Building repairs and maintenance	6,622	6,748
Real estate taxes and insurance	33,192	31,131
Utilities	22,028	21,548
Landscaping	5,392	5,408
Other operating	7,507	7,619
Depreciation and amortization	73,112	90,013
Total property operating expenses	173,506	187,376
Acquisition expense	339	11
Property management expenses	8,493	7,011
General and administrative expenses	6,566	4,342
Merger related expenses	0	2,076
Integration related expenses	0	3,842
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	68,907	38,829
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	(157)	160
Interest expense	(29,931)	(30,676)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(3,376)	0
Amortization of deferred financing costs	(917)	(1,311)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(19)	(10)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	30,228	2,564
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	557
Income before income tax expense	64,735	10,113
Income tax expense	(510)	(270)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	64,225	9,843
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	19	(24)
Income from continuing operations	64,244	9,819
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	433	416
Loss from Insurance Settlement and Other, Discontinued Operations	0	(2)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	5,481
Consolidated net income	64,677	15,714
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 64,677	$ 15,714
Earnings per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.12
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.08
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.20
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.12
Discontinued property operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.08
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.81	$ 0.20
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.7700	$ 0.7300