Earnings Per Common Share of MAA (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash			$ 0	$ 0
Parent Company [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Weighted average common shares, basic		78,502	75,176	74,982
Weighted Average General Partnership Units Outstanding		0	0	0
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment		298	0	0
Weighted average common shares - diluted		78,800	75,176	74,982
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		$ 924
Calculation of Basic Earnings per Share [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		224,402	$ 350,745	$ 150,946
Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(12,180)	(18,458)	(8,013)
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		(572)	(772)	(278)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		(307)	0	0
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		211,343	331,515	142,655
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	0	5,331
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	0	(284)
Income from discontinued operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		0	0	(10)
Income from discontinued operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		$ 0	$ 0	$ 5,037
Basic Earnings Per Share		$ 2.69	$ 4.41	$ 1.97
Calculation of Diluted Earnings per Share [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 224,402	$ 350,745	$ 150,946
Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(12,180)	(18,458)	(8,013)
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		0	(772)	(278)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		(307)	0	0
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		211,915	331,515	142,655
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	0	5,331
Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0	0	(284)
Income from discontinued operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		0	0	(10)
Income from discontinued operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		$ 0	$ 0	$ 5,037
Diluted Earnings Per Share		$ 2.69	$ 4.41	$ 1.97
Limited Partnership Units [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Effect of dilutive securities (shares)	[1]	4,200
Restricted Stock [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure
Effect of dilutive securities (shares)	[2]	100

[1] 4.2 million OP units and their related income are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations as they are not dilutive.

[2] 0.1 million potentially dilutive securities and their related income are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as they are not dilutive.