Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 263,337	$ 261,998	$ 258,891	$ 258,552	$ 253,219	$ 249,574	$ 245,305	$ 244,234	$ 1,042,779	$ 992,332	$ 635,490
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	76,763	73,138	68,837	69,393	68,791	64,039	58,092	39,311	288,131	230,233	117,328
Interest expense	30,834	30,229	30,433	30,848	31,378	29,251	31,337	31,987	(122,344)	(123,953)	(78,978)
Loss from real estate joint ventures	3	(1)	(23)	19	(10)	3,124	2,919	(24)	(2)	6,009	338
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	0	0	0	0	(4)	(8)	(4)	(47)	0	(63)	4,650
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	0	0	0	16	(103)	0	5,481	0	5,394	76,844
Consolidated net income	45,367	96,828	143,873	64,677	36,458	70,719	33,386	15,714	350,745	156,277	119,279
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,380	5,094	7,574	3,410	1,933	3,743	1,773	848	18,458	8,297	3,998
Net income (loss) available for MAA common shareholders	$ 42,987	$ 91,734	$ 136,299	$ 61,267	$ 34,525	$ 66,976	$ 31,613	$ 14,866	$ 332,287	$ 147,980	$ 115,281
Earnings per share - basic	$ 0.57	$ 1.22	$ 1.81	$ 0.81	$ 0.46	$ 0.89	$ 0.42	$ 0.20	$ 4.41	$ 1.97	$ 2.27
Earnings per share - diluted	0.57	1.22	1.81	0.81	0.46	0.89	0.42	0.20	4.41	1.97	2.25
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.77	$ 0.77	$ 0.77	$ 0.77	$ 0.73	$ 0.73	$ 0.73	$ 0.73	$ 3.08	$ 2.92	$ 2.78
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities									$ 463,721	$ 385,378	$ 258,380
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash									2,091	(8,704)	(11,844)
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised									420	12,245	6,212
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities									(136,215)	(203,764)	(83,788)
Return (funding) of escrow for future acquisitions									8	24,884	(24,884)
Payments To Acquire Real Estate And Other Assets									(328,193)	(309,174)	(139,199)
Payments for Capital Improvements									(88,486)	(90,201)	(53,439)
Construction capital and other improvements									(7,848)	(7,998)	(4,148)
Renovations to Existing Real Estate Assets									(30,957)	(21,089)	(11,008)
Payments to Develop Real Estate Assets									(38,730)	(70,788)	(53,042)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									(316,600)	(244,294)	(94,334)
Limited Partner [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 263,337	$ 261,998	$ 258,891	$ 258,552	$ 253,219	$ 249,574	$ 245,305	$ 244,234	1,042,779	992,332	635,490
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	76,763	73,138	68,837	69,393	68,791	64,039	58,092	39,311	288,131	230,233	117,328
Interest expense	(30,834)	(30,229)	(30,433)	(30,848)	(31,378)	(29,251)	(31,337)	(31,987)	(122,344)	(123,953)	(78,978)
Loss from real estate joint ventures	3	(1)	(23)	19	(10)	3,124	2,919	(24)	(2)	6,009	338
(Loss) income from discontinued operations before gain on sale	0	0	0	0	(4)	(8)	(4)	(47)	0	(63)	4,239
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	0	0	0	16	(103)	0	5,481	0	5,394	65,520
Consolidated net income									$ 350,745	$ 156,277	$ 107,544
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Unitholders	$ 45,367	$ 96,828	$ 143,873	$ 64,677	$ 36,458	$ 70,719	$ 33,386	$ 15,714
Earnings per share - basic	$ 0.57	$ 1.22	$ 1.81	$ 0.81	$ 0.46	$ 0.89	$ 0.42	$ 0.20	$ 4.41	$ 1.97	$ 2.02
Earnings per share - diluted	0.57	1.22	1.81	0.81	0.46	0.89	0.42	0.20	$ 4.41	$ 1.97	$ 2.02
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Paid, Per Unit	$ 0.77	$ 0.77	$ 0.77	$ 0.77	$ 0.73	$ 0.73	$ 0.73	$ 0.73
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities									$ 463,721	$ 385,378	$ 257,904
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash									2,091	(8,704)	(11,843)
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised									420	12,245	6,212
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities									(136,215)	(203,764)	(100,391)
Return (funding) of escrow for future acquisitions									8	24,884	(24,884)
Payments To Acquire Real Estate And Other Assets									(328,193)	(309,174)	(139,199)
Payments for Capital Improvements									(88,486)	(90,201)	(53,357)
Construction capital and other improvements									(7,848)	(7,998)	(4,148)
Renovations to Existing Real Estate Assets									(30,957)	(21,089)	(11,008)
Payments to Develop Real Estate Assets									(38,730)	(70,788)	(53,042)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									$ (316,600)	$ (244,294)	$ (77,114)