Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 355,832	$ 249,326	$ 707,009	$ 494,991
Other property revenues	26,959	22,910	54,690	46,261
Total operating revenues	382,791	272,236	761,699	541,252
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	34,642	25,858	68,015	51,055
Building repairs and maintenance	11,811	7,680	21,624	13,779
Real estate taxes and insurance	54,163	34,729	108,136	69,900
Utilities	27,527	22,244	54,424	44,380
Landscaping	7,045	5,673	13,567	10,994
Other operating	10,781	6,771	21,476	13,728
Depreciation and amortization	126,360	75,742	256,357	150,870
Total property operating expenses	272,329	178,697	543,599	354,706
Acquisition expense	0	421	0	1,134
Property management expenses	10,745	8,310	21,726	17,313
General and administrative expenses	9,534	7,014	22,374	13,596
Merger Related Expenses	978	0	3,849	0
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	3,229	0	6,519	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	85,976	77,794	163,632	154,503
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	650	62	3,329	94
Interest expense	(38,481)	(32,039)	(75,065)	(64,250)
Loss on debt extinguishment	2,217	0	2,340	3
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(240)	1,760	(331)	813
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	274	68	201	823
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	48	543	48	2,170
Income before income tax expense	50,444	48,188	94,154	94,156
Income tax expense	(618)	(457)	(1,269)	(745)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	49,826	47,731	92,885	93,411
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	329	(101)	686	27
Consolidated net income	50,155	47,630	93,571	93,438
Preferred Unit Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	0	1,844	0
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 49,233	$ 47,630	$ 91,727	$ 93,438
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.42	$ 0.60	$ 0.78	$ 1.17
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.42	0.60	0.78	1.17
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.87	$ 0.82	$ 1.74	$ 1.64
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 355,832	$ 249,326	$ 707,009	$ 494,991
Other property revenues	26,959	22,910	54,690	46,261
Total operating revenues	382,791	272,236	761,699	541,252
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	34,642	25,858	68,015	51,055
Building repairs and maintenance	11,811	7,680	21,624	13,779
Real estate taxes and insurance	54,163	34,729	108,136	69,900
Utilities	27,527	22,244	54,424	44,380
Landscaping	7,045	5,673	13,567	10,994
Other operating	10,781	6,771	21,476	13,728
Depreciation and amortization	126,360	75,742	256,357	150,870
Total property operating expenses	272,329	178,697	543,599	354,706
Acquisition expense	0	421	0	1,134
Property management expenses	10,745	8,310	21,726	17,313
General and administrative expenses	9,534	7,014	22,374	13,596
Merger Related Expenses	978	0	3,849	0
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	3,229	0	6,519	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	85,976	77,794	163,632	154,503
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	650	62	3,329	94
Interest expense	(38,481)	(32,039)	(75,065)	(64,250)
Loss on debt extinguishment	2,217	0	2,340	3
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	(240)	1,760	(331)	813
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	274	68	201	823
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	48	543	48	2,170
Income before income tax expense	50,444	48,188	94,154	94,156
Income tax expense	(618)	(457)	(1,269)	(745)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	49,826	47,731	92,885	93,411
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	329	(101)	686	27
Consolidated net income	50,155	47,630	93,571	93,438
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,840	2,486	3,351	4,881
Net income available for shareholders	48,315	45,144	90,220	88,557
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	0	1,844	0
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 47,393	$ 45,144	$ 88,376	$ 88,557
Earnings per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	$ 0.42		$ 0.78
Net income available for common shareholders		$ 0.60		$ 1.17
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders	0.42		0.78
Net income available for common shareholders		0.60		1.17
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.87	$ 0.82	1.74	1.64
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit			$ 1.74	$ 1.64