MAA Equity (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				$ (634,141,000)
Net income attributable to MAA				172,836,000
Redeemable stock fair market value				(296,000)
Dividends on common stock				(185,789,000)
Ending Balance		$ (647,390,000)		(647,390,000)
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				753,000
Issuance and registration of common shares				1,000
Shares repurchased and retired				0
Shares issued in exchange for units				0
Ending Balance		754,000		754,000
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				3,627,074,000
Issuance and registration of common shares				(739,000)
Shares repurchased and retired				(1,811,000)
Shares issued in exchange for units				780,000
Shares issued in exchange for redeemable stock				122,000
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership				(38,000)
Amortization of unearned compensation				6,625,000
Ending Balance		3,632,013,000		3,632,013,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				165,726,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest				9,508,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)				(25,000)
Shares issued in exchange for units				(780,000)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership				38,000
Dividends on common stock				0
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units				(10,217,000)
Ending Balance		164,250,000		164,250,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				(1,589,000)
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)				(456,000)
Ending Balance		(2,045,000)		(2,045,000)
Parent Company [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 118,958,000	$ 88,906,000	$ 212,529,000	$ 182,344,000
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,548,320,000		6,548,320,000		$ 6,639,795,000
Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Ventures	$ 2,306,000		$ 2,306,000		2,306,000
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.87	$ 0.82	$ 2.61	$ 2.46
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit			$ 2.61	$ 2.46
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance and registration of common shares			$ 2,007,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock			1,007,000	$ (216,000)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash			(2,766,000)	0
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			(707,479,000)
Net income attributable to MAA			204,929,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)			0
Issuance and registration of common shares			0
Shares repurchased and retired			0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised			0
Shares issued in exchange for units			0
Redeemable stock fair market value			(870,000)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			0
Amortization of unearned compensation			(114,000)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash			(2,766,000)
Dividends on common stock			(296,535,000)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units			0
Ending Balance	$ (802,835,000)		(802,835,000)
Parent Company [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	9,000		9,000		$ 9,000
Parent Company [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			1,133,000
Issuance and registration of common shares			1,000
Shares repurchased and retired			0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised			0
Shares issued in exchange for units			0
Ending Balance	1,134,000		1,134,000
Parent Company [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			7,109,012,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)			0
Issuance and registration of common shares			2,007,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock			153,000
Shares repurchased and retired			(4,782,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised			218,000
Shares issued in exchange for units			1,133,000
Shares issued in exchange for redeemable stock			1,482,000
Redeemable stock fair market value			0
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			54,000
Amortization of unearned compensation			8,552,000
Dividends on common stock			0
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units			0
Ending Balance	7,117,829,000		7,117,829,000
Parent Company [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			235,976,000
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			7,600,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)			(14,000)
Issuance and registration of common shares			0	0
Shares repurchased and retired			0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised			0
Shares issued in exchange for units			(1,133,000)
Redeemable stock fair market value			0
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			(54,000)
Amortization of unearned compensation			0
Dividends on common stock			0
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units			(10,982,000)
Ending Balance	231,393,000		231,393,000
Parent Company [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			1,144,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)			(354,000)
Issuance and registration of common shares			0
Shares repurchased and retired			0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised			0
Shares issued in exchange for units			0
Redeemable stock fair market value			0
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			0
Amortization of unearned compensation			0
Dividends on common stock			0
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units			0
Ending Balance	790,000		790,000
Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				3,157,823,000
Net Income Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest				182,344,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)				(481,000)
Issuance and registration of common shares				(738,000)
Shares repurchased and retired				(1,811,000)
Shares issued in exchange for units				0
Shares issued in exchange for redeemable stock				122,000
Redeemable stock fair market value				(296,000)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership				0
Amortization of unearned compensation				6,625,000
Dividends on common stock				(185,789,000)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units				(10,217,000)
Ending Balance		$ 3,147,582,000		$ 3,147,582,000
Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			6,642,101,000
Net Income Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			212,529,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income - derivatives insturments (cash flow hedges)			(368,000)
Issuance and registration of common shares			154,000
Shares repurchased and retired			(4,782,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised			218,000
Shares issued in exchange for units			0
Shares issued in exchange for redeemable stock			1,482,000
Redeemable stock fair market value			(870,000)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interest ownership in operating partnership			0
Amortization of unearned compensation			8,438,000
Dividends on common stock			(296,535,000)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units			(10,982,000)
Ending Balance	$ 6,550,626,000		$ 6,550,626,000