Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 249,326	$ 236,165	$ 494,991	$ 471,106
Other property revenues	22,910	22,726	46,261	46,337
Total operating revenues	272,236	258,891	541,252	517,443
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	25,858	25,872	51,055	51,533
Building repairs and maintenance	7,680	7,778	13,779	14,403
Real estate taxes and insurance	34,729	32,805	69,900	66,126
Utilities	22,244	21,596	44,380	43,673
Landscaping	5,673	5,687	10,994	11,132
Other operating	6,771	7,118	13,728	14,638
Depreciation and amortization	75,742	74,396	150,870	147,508
Total property operating expenses	178,697	175,252	354,706	349,013
Acquisition expense	421	1,159	1,134	1,499
Property management expenses	8,310	6,986	17,313	15,478
General and administrative expenses	7,014	6,657	13,596	13,224
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	77,794	68,837	154,503	138,229
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	62	29	94	(180)
Interest expense	(32,039)	(30,433)	(64,250)	(61,281)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(3)	3	(3,379)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	1,760	510	813	490
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	68	105,182	823	135,410
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	543	172	2,170	172
Income before income tax expense	48,188	144,294	94,156	209,461
Income tax expense	(457)	(398)	(745)	(907)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	47,731	143,896	93,411	208,554
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	(101)	(23)	27	(4)
Consolidated net income	47,630	143,873	93,438	208,550
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,486	7,574	4,881	10,984
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 45,144	$ 136,299	$ 88,557	$ 197,566
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.60	$ 1.81	$ 1.17	$ 2.62
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.60	1.81	1.17	2.62
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.82	$ 0.77	1.64	1.54
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit			$ 1.64	$ 1.54
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 249,326	$ 236,165	$ 494,991	$ 471,106
Other property revenues	22,910	22,726	46,261	46,337
Total operating revenues	272,236	258,891	541,252	517,443
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	25,858	25,872	51,055	51,533
Building repairs and maintenance	7,680	7,778	13,779	14,403
Real estate taxes and insurance	34,729	32,805	69,900	66,126
Utilities	22,244	21,596	44,380	43,673
Landscaping	5,673	5,687	10,994	11,132
Other operating	6,771	7,118	13,728	14,638
Depreciation and amortization	75,742	74,396	150,870	147,508
Total property operating expenses	178,697	175,252	354,706	349,013
Acquisition expense	421	1,159	1,134	1,499
Property management expenses	8,310	6,986	17,313	15,478
General and administrative expenses	7,014	6,657	13,596	13,224
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	77,794	68,837	154,503	138,229
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	62	29	94	(180)
Interest expense	(32,039)	(30,433)	(64,250)	(61,281)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(3)	3	(3,379)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	1,760	510	813	490
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	68	105,182	823	135,410
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	543	172	2,170	172
Income before income tax expense	48,188	144,294	94,156	209,461
Income tax expense	(457)	(398)	(745)	(907)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	47,731	143,896	93,411	208,554
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	(101)	(23)	27	(4)
Consolidated net income	47,630	143,873	93,438	208,550
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 47,630	$ 143,873	$ 93,438	$ 208,550
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.60	$ 1.81	$ 1.17	$ 2.62
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.60	1.81	1.17	2.62
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.82	$ 0.77	$ 1.64	$ 1.54