Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 351,177	$ 245,665
Other property revenues	27,731	23,351
Total operating revenues	378,908	269,016
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	33,373	25,197
Building repairs and maintenance	9,813	6,099
Real estate taxes and insurance	53,973	35,172
Utilities	26,897	22,136
Landscaping	6,522	5,321
Other operating	10,695	6,956
Depreciation and amortization	129,997	75,127
Total property operating expenses	271,270	176,008
Acquisition expense	0	713
Property management expenses	10,981	9,004
General and administrative expenses	12,840	6,582
Merger Related Expenses	2,871	0
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	3,290	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	77,656	76,709
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	2,679	32
Interest expense	(36,584)	(32,211)
Loss on debt extinguishment	123	3
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(91)	(947)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	(73)	755
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	1,627
Income before income tax expense	43,710	45,968
Income tax expense	(651)	(288)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	43,059	45,680
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	357	128
Consolidated net income	43,416	45,808
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,511	2,395
Net income available for shareholders	41,905	43,413
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	0
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 40,983	$ 43,413
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.36	$ 0.58
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.36	0.58
Dividends declared per common share	0.87	0.82
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.87	$ 0.82
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 351,177	$ 245,665
Other property revenues	27,731	23,351
Total operating revenues	378,908	269,016
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	33,373	25,197
Building repairs and maintenance	9,813	6,099
Real estate taxes and insurance	53,973	35,172
Utilities	26,897	22,136
Landscaping	6,522	5,321
Other operating	10,695	6,956
Depreciation and amortization	129,997	75,127
Total property operating expenses	271,270	176,008
Acquisition expense	0	713
Property management expenses	10,981	9,004
General and administrative expenses	12,840	6,582
Merger Related Expenses	2,871	0
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	3,290	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	77,656	76,709
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	2,679	32
Interest expense	(36,584)	(32,211)
Loss on debt extinguishment	123	3
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(91)	(947)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	(73)	755
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	0	1,627
Income before income tax expense	43,710	45,968
Income tax expense	(651)	(288)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	43,059	45,680
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	357	128
Consolidated net income	43,416	45,808
Preferred Unit Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	0
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 42,494	$ 45,808
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.36	$ 0.61
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.36	0.61
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.87	$ 0.82