MAA Equity (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 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	(739,000)	324,000
Shares repurchased and retired	(1,811,000)	(957,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised		420,000
Shares issued in exchange for units	780,000	236,000
Shares issued in exchange for redeemable stock	122,000
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership	(38,000)	(409,000)
Amortization of unearned compensation	6,625,000	4,950,000
Ending Balance	3,632,013,000	3,623,834,000
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	172,836,000	289,300,000
Redeemable stock fair market value	(296,000)	(614,000)
Dividends on common stock	(185,789,000)	(174,100,000)
Ending Balance	(647,390,000)	(614,500,000)
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)	(456,000)	(5,894,000)
Ending Balance	(2,045,000)	(6,306,000)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	165,726,000	161,287,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	9,508,000	16,078,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)	(25,000)	(328,000)
Shares issued in exchange for units	(780,000)	(236,000)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership	38,000	409,000
Dividends on common stock	0	0
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units	(10,217,000)	(9,671,000)
Ending Balance	164,250,000	167,539,000
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	182,344,000	305,378,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)	(481,000)	(6,222,000)
Issuance and registration of common shares	(738,000)	326,000
Shares repurchased and retired	(1,811,000)	(957,000)
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	122,000
Redeemable stock fair market value	(296,000)	(614,000)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership	0	0
Amortization of unearned compensation	6,625,000	4,950,000
Dividends on common stock	(185,789,000)	(174,100,000)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units	(10,217,000)	(9,671,000)
Ending Balance	$ 3,147,582,000	3,171,321,000
Parent Company [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance and registration of common shares		$ 0