Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact											$ 0
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 382,738,000	$ 384,550,000	$ 382,791,000	$ 378,908,000	$ 307,198,000	$ 276,898,000	$ 272,236,000	$ 269,016,000	$ 1,528,987,000	$ 1,125,348,000	1,042,779,000
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	96,473,000	94,671,000	85,976,000	77,656,000	44,618,000	74,823,000	78,215,000	77,422,000	354,776,000	275,078,000	290,908,000
Interest expense									(154,751,000)	(129,947,000)	(122,344,000)
Loss from real estate joint ventures									1,370,000	241,000	(2,000)
Consolidated net income	128,007,000	118,958,000	50,155,000	43,416,000	42,058,000	88,906,000	47,630,000	45,808,000	340,536,000	224,402,000	350,745,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									12,157,000	12,180,000	18,458,000
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact									3,688,000	307,000
Net income (loss) available for MAA common shareholders	$ 122,528,000	$ 113,787,000	$ 47,393,000	$ 40,983,000	$ 39,079,000	$ 84,279,000	$ 45,144,000	$ 43,413,000	$ 324,691,000	$ 211,915,000	$ 332,287,000
Earnings per share - basic	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.44	$ 1.12	$ 0.60	$ 0.58	$ 2.86	$ 2.69	$ 4.41
Earnings per share - diluted	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.44	$ 1.12	$ 0.60	$ 0.58	2.86	2.69	4.41
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid									$ 3.48	$ 3.28	$ 3.08
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities									$ 658,513,000	$ 484,039,000	$ 463,721,000
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised									432,000	0	420,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities									(283,435,000)	(710,487,000)	(136,215,000)
Return (funding) of escrow for future acquisitions									10,591,000	(58,259,000)	8,000
Payments To Acquire Real Estate And Other Assets									(136,065,000)	(339,186,000)	(328,193,000)
Payments for Capital Improvements									(343,890,000)	(183,977,000)	(166,021,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									(397,864,000)	222,425,000	(316,600,000)
Limited Partner [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 382,738,000	$ 384,550,000	$ 382,791,000	$ 378,908,000	$ 307,198,000	$ 276,898,000	$ 272,236,000	$ 269,016,000	1,528,987,000	1,125,348,000	1,042,779,000
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	96,473,000	94,671,000	85,976,000	77,656,000	44,618,000	74,823,000	78,215,000	77,422,000	354,776,000	275,078,000	290,908,000
Interest expense									(154,751,000)	(129,947,000)	(122,344,000)
Loss from real estate joint ventures									1,370,000	241,000	(2,000)
Consolidated net income	128,007,000	118,958,000	50,155,000	43,416,000	42,058,000	88,906,000	47,630,000	45,808,000	340,536,000	224,402,000	350,745,000
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact									(3,688,000)	(307,000)	0
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Unitholders	$ 127,085,000	$ 118,036,000	$ 49,233,000	$ 42,494,000	$ 41,751,000	$ 88,906,000	$ 47,630,000	$ 45,808,000
Earnings per share - basic	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.45	$ 1.12	$ 0.60	$ 0.61
Earnings per share - diluted	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.45	$ 1.12	$ 0.60	$ 0.61
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities									658,513,000	484,039,000	463,721,000
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised									432,000	0	420,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities									(283,435,000)	(710,487,000)	(136,215,000)
Return (funding) of escrow for future acquisitions									10,591,000	(58,259,000)	8,000
Payments To Acquire Real Estate And Other Assets									(136,065,000)	(339,186,000)	(328,193,000)
Payments for Capital Improvements									(343,890,000)	(183,977,000)	(166,021,000)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									$ (397,864,000)	$ 222,425,000	$ (316,600,000)