Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 386,017	$ 378,908
Property operating expenses:
Operating Expenses	89,148	87,300
Real estate taxes and insurance	55,256	53,973
Depreciation and amortization	120,744	129,997
Total property operating expenses	265,148	271,270
Property management expenses	12,880	10,981
General and administrative expenses	10,132	12,840
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	3,799	6,161
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	94,058	77,656
Interest expense	(40,905)	(36,584)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	0	(73)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	150	0
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(2,341)	2,711
Income before income tax expense	50,962	43,710
Income tax expense	(640)	(651)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	50,322	43,059
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	498	357
Consolidated net income	50,820	43,416
Preferred Unit Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 49,898	$ 42,494
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net Income available for common shareholders	$ 0.42	$ 0.36
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.42	0.36
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.9225	$ 0.8700
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 386,017	$ 378,908
Property operating expenses:
Operating Expenses	89,148	87,300
Real estate taxes and insurance	55,256	53,973
Depreciation and amortization	120,744	129,997
Total property operating expenses	265,148	271,270
Property management expenses	12,880	10,981
General and administrative expenses	10,132	12,840
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	3,799	6,161
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	94,058	77,656
Interest expense	(40,905)	(36,584)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	0	(73)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	150	0
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(2,341)	2,711
Income before income tax expense	50,962	43,710
Income tax expense	(640)	(651)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	50,322	43,059
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	498	357
Consolidated net income	50,820	43,416
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,801	1,511
Net income available for shareholders	49,019	41,905
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 48,097	$ 40,983
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net Income available for common shareholders	$ 0.42	$ 0.36
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.42	0.36
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.9225	$ 0.8700