Shareholder's Equity (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 08, 2015	Dec. 31, 1999
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding	75,408,571	75,267,675
Common shares and operating partnership units outstanding	79,571,567	79,458,827
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	11,914	9,270
RepurchasePlan%CSoutstanding	5.30%
Shares, Outstanding				2,100,000
Equity Option [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Common stock shares issued (shares)	7,342	270,459	110,715
Maximum
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Common stock authorized for repurchase plan (shares)	4,000,000.0				4,000,000.0
Period Covered from 1999 to 2011
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Common stock repurchased and retired (shares)	1,900,000
Common stock repurchased and retired, value	$ 42,000,000
Common stock repurchased and retired (dollars per share)	$ 22.54
Dividend And Distribution Reinvestment And Share Purchase Plan
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Common stock issued for shareholders to reinvest distributions (shares)	8,562	9,055	10,924
Dividend And Distribution Reinvestment And Share Purchase Plan | Minimum
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Optional cash investments in common shares	$ 250
Dividend And Distribution Reinvestment And Share Purchase Plan | Maximum
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Optional cash investments in common shares	$ 5,000
Common stock registered for Dividend and Distribution Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (shares)	9,600,000
Discount rate on sale of common stock (percent)	5.00%
Noncontrolling Interest
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Common Shares Issuable Upon Conversion Of Convertible Stock	4,162,996	4,191,152
Limited Partners' Capital Account	$ 378,041,667	$ 312,995,231
Redeemable Capital Shares Par Or Stated Value Per Share	$ 90.81	$ 74.68
Percentage of Operating Partnership net income (percent)	5.20%	5.30%	4.60%
MAA
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Percentage of Operating Partnership net income (percent)	94.80%	94.70%	95.40%
Parent Company [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding	75,408,571	75,267,675
Common stock registered for Dividend and Distribution Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan (shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	$ 622,000	$ 1,042,000	$ 25,680,000
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	$ 420,000	$ 12,245,000	6,212,000
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number	58,112	74,454
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	$ 400,000	$ 12,200,000	$ 6,200,000