MAA Equity (Details) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 753,000	$ 752,000
Issuance and registration of common shares	1,000	2,000
Shares repurchased and retired	0	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		0
Shares issued in exchange for units	0	0
Ending Balance	754,000	754,000
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3,627,074,000	3,619,270,000
Issuance and registration of common shares	185,000	182,000
Shares repurchased and retired	(1,742,000)	(945,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		420,000
Shares issued in exchange for units	158,000	184,000
Shares issued in exchange for redeemable stock	123,000
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership	(87,000)	45,000
Amortization of unearned compensation	4,383,000	3,167,000
Ending Balance	3,630,094,000	3,622,323,000
Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(634,141,000)	(729,086,000)
Net income attributable to MAA	88,557,000	197,566,000
Redeemable stock fair market value	(1,518,000)	173,000
Dividends on common stock	(123,852,000)	(116,066,000)
Ending Balance	(670,954,000)	(647,413,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(1,589,000)	(412,000)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)	(2,561,000)	1,364,000
Ending Balance	(4,150,000)	952,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	165,726,000	161,287,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	4,881,000	10,984,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)	(141,000)	76,000
Shares issued in exchange for units	(158,000)	(184,000)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership	87,000	(45,000)
Dividends on common stock	0	0
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units	(6,820,000)	(6,449,000)
Ending Balance	163,575,000	165,669,000
Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3,157,823,000	3,051,811,000
Net Income Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	93,438,000	208,550,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)	(2,702,000)	1,440,000
Issuance and registration of common shares	186,000	184,000
Shares repurchased and retired	(1,742,000)	(945,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		420,000
Shares issued in exchange for units	0	0
Shares issued in exchange for redeemable stock	123,000
Redeemable stock fair market value	(1,518,000)	173,000
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership	0	0
Amortization of unearned compensation	4,383,000	3,167,000
Dividends on common stock	(123,852,000)	(116,066,000)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units	(6,820,000)	(6,449,000)
Ending Balance	$ 3,119,319,000	3,142,285,000
Parent Company [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance and registration of common shares		$ 0