Earnings Per Common Share of MAA (Details) - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Weighted average common shares, basic		75,176	74,982	50,677
Weighted Average General Partnership Units Outstanding		0	0	2,351
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment		0	0	88
Weighted average common shares - diluted		75,176	74,982	53,116
Calculation of Basic Earnings per Share [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 350,745	$ 150,946	$ 37,692
Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(18,458)	(8,013)	(1,154)
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		(772)	(278)	(34)
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		331,515	142,655	36,504
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	5,331	81,587
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	(284)	(2,845)
Income from discontinued operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		0	(10)	(73)
Income from discontinued operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		$ 0	$ 5,037	$ 78,669
Basic Earnings Per Share		$ 4.41	$ 1.97	$ 2.27
Calculation of Diluted Earnings per Share [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 350,745	$ 150,946	$ 37,692
Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(18,458)	(8,013)	0
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		(772)	(278)	0
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		331,515	142,655	37,692
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	5,331	81,587
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	(284)	0
Income from discontinued operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		0	(10)	0
Income from discontinued operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		$ 0	$ 5,037	$ 81,587
Diluted Earnings Per Share		$ 4.41	$ 1.97	$ 2.25
Limited Partnership Units [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Effect of dilutive securities (shares)	[1]	4,200
Restricted Stock [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Effect of dilutive securities (shares)	[2]	100

[1] 4.2 million OP units and their related income are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations as they are not dilutive.

[2] 0.1 million potentially dilutive securities and their related income are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as they are not dilutive.