Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 357,619	$ 254,161	$ 1,064,628	$ 749,153
Other property revenues	26,931	22,737	81,621	68,997
Total operating revenues	384,550	276,898	1,146,249	818,150
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	35,640	27,236	103,655	78,290
Building repairs and maintenance	12,663	9,377	34,287	23,156
Real estate taxes and insurance	52,597	34,282	160,733	104,182
Utilities	30,175	24,690	84,599	69,070
Landscaping	4,809	4,021	18,376	15,016
Other operating	13,295	7,040	34,771	20,768
Depreciation and amortization	117,928	76,959	374,285	227,829
Total property operating expenses	267,107	183,605	810,706	538,311
Acquisition expense	0	1,033	0	2,167
Property management expenses	10,281	7,908	32,007	25,221
General and administrative expenses	8,361	6,661	30,735	20,257
Merger Related Expenses	128	3,901	3,977	3,901
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	4,002	0	10,521	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	94,671	73,790	258,303	228,293
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	4,303	64	7,632	159
Interest expense	(39,940)	(32,168)	(115,005)	(96,418)
Loss on debt extinguishment	828	0	3,168	3
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	564	(75)	233	738
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	58,844	47,749	59,045	48,572
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(6)	0	42	2,170
Income before income tax expense	119,264	89,360	213,418	183,517
Income tax expense	(641)	(454)	(1,910)	(1,200)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	118,623	88,906	211,508	182,317
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	335	0	1,021	27
Consolidated net income	118,958	88,906	212,529	182,344
Preferred Unit Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	0	2,766	0
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 118,036	$ 88,906	$ 209,763	$ 182,344
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 1.00	$ 1.12	$ 1.78	$ 2.29
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	1.00	1.12	1.78	2.29
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.87	$ 0.82	$ 2.61	$ 2.46
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Rental revenues	$ 357,619	$ 254,161	$ 1,064,628	$ 749,153
Other property revenues	26,931	22,737	81,621	68,997
Total operating revenues	384,550	276,898	1,146,249	818,150
Property operating expenses:
Personnel	35,640	27,236	103,655	78,290
Building repairs and maintenance	12,663	9,377	34,287	23,156
Real estate taxes and insurance	52,597	34,282	160,733	104,182
Utilities	30,175	24,690	84,599	69,070
Landscaping	4,809	4,021	18,376	15,016
Other operating	13,295	7,040	34,771	20,768
Depreciation and amortization	117,928	76,959	374,285	227,829
Total property operating expenses	267,107	183,605	810,706	538,311
Acquisition expense	0	1,033	0	2,167
Property management expenses	10,281	7,908	32,007	25,221
General and administrative expenses	8,361	6,661	30,735	20,257
Merger Related Expenses	128	3,901	3,977	3,901
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs	4,002	0	10,521	0
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	94,671	73,790	258,303	228,293
Interest and other non-property (expense) income	4,303	64	7,632	159
Interest expense	(39,940)	(32,168)	(115,005)	(96,418)
Loss on debt extinguishment	828	0	3,168	3
Net casualty loss after insurance and other settlement proceeds	564	(75)	233	738
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	58,844	47,749	59,045	48,572
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(6)	0	42	2,170
Income before income tax expense	119,264	89,360	213,418	183,517
Income tax expense	(641)	(454)	(1,910)	(1,200)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	118,623	88,906	211,508	182,317
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	335	0	1,021	27
Consolidated net income	118,958	88,906	212,529	182,344
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,249	4,627	7,600	9,508
Net income available for shareholders	114,709	84,279	204,929	172,836
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	0	2,766	0
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 113,787	$ 84,279	$ 202,163	$ 172,836
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 1.00	$ 1.12	$ 1.78	$ 2.29
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	1.00	1.12	1.78	2.29
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.87	$ 0.82	2.61	2.46
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit			$ 2.61	$ 2.46