Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property operating expenses:
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses		$ 40,800,000
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact			$ 0
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 1,528,987,000	1,125,348,000	1,042,779,000
Property operating expenses:
Operating Expenses	364,190,000	280,572,000	271,027,000
Real estate taxes and insurance	212,541,000	142,784,000	129,618,000
Depreciation and amortization	493,708,000	322,958,000	294,520,000
Total property operating expenses	1,070,439,000	746,314,000	695,165,000
Property management expenses	43,588,000	34,093,000	30,990,000
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	19,990,000	40,823,000	0
General and administrative expenses	40,194,000	29,040,000	25,716,000
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	354,776,000	275,078,000	290,908,000
Interest expense	(154,751,000)	(129,947,000)	(122,344,000)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	21,000	2,171,000	172,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	14,353,000	(1,839,000)	(6,274,000)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	127,386,000	80,397,000	189,958,000
Income before income tax expense	341,785,000	225,860,000	352,420,000
Income tax expense	(2,619,000)	(1,699,000)	(1,673,000)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	339,166,000	224,161,000	350,747,000
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	1,370,000	241,000	(2,000)
Consolidated net income	340,536,000	224,402,000	350,745,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	12,157,000	12,180,000	18,458,000
Net Income (Loss) Available to Shareholders	328,379,000	212,222,000	332,287,000
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	3,688,000	307,000
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 324,691,000	$ 211,915,000	$ 332,287,000
Earnings per share - diluted:
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 3.5325	$ 3.33	$ 3.13
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 1,528,987,000	$ 1,125,348,000	$ 1,042,779,000
Property operating expenses:
Operating Expenses	364,190,000	280,572,000	271,027,000
Real estate taxes and insurance	212,541,000	142,784,000	129,618,000
Depreciation and amortization	493,708,000	322,958,000	294,520,000
Total property operating expenses	1,070,439,000	746,314,000	695,165,000
Property management expenses	43,588,000	34,093,000	30,990,000
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	19,990,000	40,823,000	0
General and administrative expenses	40,194,000	29,040,000	25,716,000
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	354,776,000	275,078,000	290,908,000
Interest expense	(154,751,000)	(129,947,000)	(122,344,000)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	21,000	2,171,000	172,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	14,353,000	(1,839,000)	(6,274,000)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	127,386,000	80,397,000	189,958,000
Income before income tax expense	341,785,000	225,860,000	352,420,000
Income tax expense	(2,619,000)	(1,699,000)	(1,673,000)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	339,166,000	224,161,000	350,747,000
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	1,370,000	241,000	(2,000)
Consolidated net income	340,536,000	224,402,000	350,745,000
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	3,688,000	307,000	0
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 336,848,000	$ 224,095,000	$ 350,745,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Basic Earnings Per Unit	$ 2.86	$ 2.70	$ 4.41
Earnings per share - diluted:
Net income available to common shareholders (dollars per share)	2.86	2.70	4.41
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 3.5325	$ 3.33	$ 3.13