Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 245,665	$ 234,941
Other property revenues	23,351	23,611
Total operating revenues	269,016	258,552
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	25,197	25,661
Building repairs and maintenance	6,099	6,625
Real estate taxes and insurance	35,172	33,321
Utilities	22,136	22,077
Landscaping	5,321	5,445
Other operating	6,956	7,520
Depreciation and amortization	75,127	73,112
Total property operating expenses	176,008	173,761
Acquisition expense	713	339
Property management expenses	9,004	8,492
General and administrative expenses	6,582	6,567
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	76,709	69,393
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	32	(210)
Interest expense	(32,211)	(30,848)
Loss on debt extinguishment	3	(3,376)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(947)	(19)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	755	30,228
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	1,627	0
Income before income tax expense	45,968	65,168
Income tax expense	(288)	(510)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	45,680	64,658
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	128	19
Consolidated net income	45,808	64,677
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,395	3,410
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 43,413	$ 61,267
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.58	$ 0.81
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.58	0.81
Dividends declared per common share	0.82	0.77
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.82	$ 0.77
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 245,665	$ 234,941
Other property revenues	23,351	23,611
Total operating revenues	269,016	258,552
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	25,197	25,661
Building repairs and maintenance	6,099	6,625
Real estate taxes and insurance	35,172	33,321
Utilities	22,136	22,077
Landscaping	5,321	5,445
Other operating	6,956	7,520
Depreciation and amortization	75,127	73,112
Total property operating expenses	176,008	173,761
Acquisition expense	713	339
Property management expenses	9,004	8,492
General and administrative expenses	6,582	6,567
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	76,709	69,393
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	32	(210)
Interest expense	(32,211)	(30,848)
Loss on debt extinguishment	3	(3,376)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(947)	(19)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	755	30,228
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	1,627	0
Income before income tax expense	45,968	65,168
Income tax expense	(288)	(510)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	45,680	64,658
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	128	19
Consolidated net income	45,808	64,677
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 45,808	$ 64,677
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.61	$ 0.81
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.61	0.81
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.82	$ 0.77