Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment (Detail) - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Information
Total operating revenues	$ 272,236	$ 258,891	$ 541,252	$ 517,443
Net Operating Income	169,281	158,035	337,416	315,938
Depreciation and amortization	(75,742)	(74,396)	(150,870)	(147,508)
Acquisition expense	(421)	(1,159)	(1,134)	(1,499)
Property management expense	(8,310)	(6,986)	(17,313)	(15,478)
General and administrative expense	(7,014)	(6,657)	(13,596)	(13,224)
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)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	68	105,182	823	135,410
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	1,760	510	813	490
Income tax expense	(457)	(398)	(745)	(907)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	543	172	2,170	172
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	(101)	(23)	27	(4)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,486)	(7,574)	(4,881)	(10,984)
Net income attributable to MAA	45,144	136,299	88,557	197,566
Large Market Same Store
Segment Information
Total property revenues	160,983	153,068	319,704	302,894
Net Operating Income	99,619	93,325	197,698	184,695
Secondary Market Same Store
Segment Information
Total property revenues	84,232	81,820	167,825	161,739
Net Operating Income	52,523	50,579	105,696	100,488
Non-Same Store and Other
Segment Information
Total property revenues	27,021	24,003	53,723	52,810
Net Operating Income	$ 17,139	$ 14,131	$ 34,022	$ 30,755