Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 254,161	$ 239,670	$ 749,153	$ 710,775
Other property revenues	22,737	22,328	68,997	68,666
Total operating revenues	276,898	261,998	818,150	779,441
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	27,236	26,500	78,290	78,033
Building repairs and maintenance	9,377	8,793	23,156	23,195
Real estate taxes and insurance	34,282	31,699	104,182	97,824
Utilities	24,690	23,769	69,070	67,442
Landscaping	4,021	3,900	15,016	15,032
Other operating	7,040	6,938	20,768	21,577
Depreciation and amortization	76,959	73,098	227,829	220,606
Total property operating expenses	183,605	174,697	538,311	523,709
Acquisition expense	1,033	656	2,167	2,155
Property management expenses	7,908	7,628	25,221	23,106
General and administrative expenses	6,661	5,879	20,257	19,103
Merger Related Expenses	3,901	0	3,901	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	73,790	73,138	228,293	211,368
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	64	(179)	159	(359)
Interest expense	(32,168)	(30,229)	(96,418)	(91,511)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(5)	3	(3,384)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(75)	(5)	738	485
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	47,749	54,621	48,572	190,031
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	0	2,170	172
Income before income tax expense	89,360	97,341	183,517	306,802
Income tax expense	(454)	(512)	(1,200)	(1,419)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	88,906	96,829	182,317	305,383
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	0	(1)	27	(5)
Consolidated net income	88,906	96,828	182,344	305,378
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,627	5,094	9,508	16,078
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 84,279	$ 91,734	$ 172,836	$ 289,300
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 1.12	$ 1.22	$ 2.29	$ 3.84
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	1.12	1.22	2.29	3.84
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.82	$ 0.77	2.46	2.31
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit			$ 2.46	$ 2.31
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 254,161	$ 239,670	$ 749,153	$ 710,775
Other property revenues	22,737	22,328	68,997	68,666
Total operating revenues	276,898	261,998	818,150	779,441
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	27,236	26,500	78,290	78,033
Building repairs and maintenance	9,377	8,793	23,156	23,195
Real estate taxes and insurance	34,282	31,699	104,182	97,824
Utilities	24,690	23,769	69,070	67,442
Landscaping	4,021	3,900	15,016	15,032
Other operating	7,040	6,938	20,768	21,577
Depreciation and amortization	76,959	73,098	227,829	220,606
Total property operating expenses	183,605	174,697	538,311	523,709
Acquisition expense	1,033	656	2,167	2,155
Property management expenses	7,908	7,628	25,221	23,106
General and administrative expenses	6,661	5,879	20,257	19,103
Merger Related Expenses	3,901	0	3,901	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	73,790	73,138	228,293	211,368
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	64	(179)	159	(359)
Interest expense	(32,168)	(30,229)	(96,418)	(91,511)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	(5)	3	(3,384)
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(75)	(5)	738	485
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	47,749	54,621	48,572	190,031
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	0	2,170	172
Income before income tax expense	89,360	97,341	183,517	306,802
Income tax expense	(454)	(512)	(1,200)	(1,419)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	88,906	96,829	182,317	305,383
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	0	(1)	27	(5)
Consolidated net income	88,906	96,828	182,344	305,378
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 88,906	$ 96,828	$ 182,344	$ 305,378
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 1.12	$ 1.22	$ 2.29	$ 3.84
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	1.12	1.22	2.29	3.84
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.82	$ 0.77	$ 2.46	$ 2.31