Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment (Detail) - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Information
Total operating revenues	$ 276,898	$ 261,998	$ 818,150	$ 779,441
Net Operating Income	170,252	160,399	507,668	476,338
Depreciation and amortization	(76,959)	(73,098)	(227,829)	(220,606)
Acquisition expense	(1,033)	(656)	(2,167)	(2,155)
Property management expense	(7,908)	(7,628)	(25,221)	(23,106)
General and administrative expense	(6,661)	(5,879)	(20,257)	(19,103)
Merger related expenses	(3,901)	0	(3,901)	0
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)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	47,749	54,621	48,572	190,031
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(75)	(5)	738	485
Income tax expense	(454)	(512)	(1,200)	(1,419)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	0	2,170	172
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	0	(1)	27	(5)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,627)	(5,094)	(9,508)	(16,078)
Net income attributable to MAA	84,279	91,734	172,836	289,300
Large Market Same Store
Segment Information
Total property revenues	163,688	156,947	483,392	459,841
Net Operating Income	100,245	95,887	297,943	280,582
Secondary Market Same Store
Segment Information
Total property revenues	85,188	83,295	253,013	245,034
Net Operating Income	52,917	51,819	158,613	152,307
Non-Same Store and Other
Segment Information
Total property revenues	28,022	21,756	81,745	74,566
Net Operating Income	$ 17,090	$ 12,693	$ 51,112	$ 43,449