Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 390,073	$ 382,791	$ 776,090	$ 761,699
Property operating expenses:
Total property operating expenses	92,980	91,806	182,128	179,106
Real estate taxes and insurance	55,750	54,163	111,006	108,136
Depreciation and amortization	122,925	126,360	243,669	256,357
Operating Expenses	271,655	272,329	536,803	543,599
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	11,396	10,745	24,276	21,726
General and administrative expenses	9,211	9,534	19,343	22,374
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	2,826	4,207	6,625	10,368
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	94,985	85,976	189,043	163,632
Interest expense	(43,585)	(38,481)	(84,490)	(75,065)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	2	274	2	201
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	2,761	48	2,911	48
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	8,032	2,627	5,691	5,338
Income before income tax expense	62,195	50,444	113,157	94,154
Income tax expense	(570)	(618)	(1,210)	(1,269)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	61,625	49,826	111,947	92,885
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	356	329	854	686
Consolidated net income	61,981	50,155	112,801	93,571
Preferred Unit Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922	1,844	1,844
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 61,059	$ 49,233	$ 110,957	$ 91,727
Earnings per common share - basic:
Earnings per unit - basic	$ 0.52	$ 0.42	$ 0.94	$ 0.78
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Earnings per unit - diluted	0.52	0.42	0.94	0.78
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.9225	$ 0.8700	$ 1.8450	$ 1.7400
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 390,073	$ 382,791	$ 776,090	$ 761,699
Property operating expenses:
Total property operating expenses	92,980	91,806	182,128	179,106
Real estate taxes and insurance	55,750	54,163	111,006	108,136
Depreciation and amortization	122,925	126,360	243,669	256,357
Operating Expenses	271,655	272,329	536,803	543,599
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	11,396	10,745	24,276	21,726
General and administrative expenses	9,211	9,534	19,343	22,374
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	2,826	4,207	6,625	10,368
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	94,985	85,976	189,043	163,632
Interest expense	(43,585)	(38,481)	(84,490)	(75,065)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	2	274	2	201
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	2,761	48	2,911	48
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	8,032	2,627	5,691	5,338
Income before income tax expense	62,195	50,444	113,157	94,154
Income tax expense	(570)	(618)	(1,210)	(1,269)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	61,625	49,826	111,947	92,885
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	356	329	854	686
Consolidated net income	61,981	50,155	112,801	93,571
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,174	1,840	3,975	3,351
Net income available for shareholders	59,807	48,315	108,826	90,220
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922	1,844	1,844
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 58,885	$ 47,393	$ 106,982	$ 88,376
Earnings per common share - basic:
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.52	$ 0.42	$ 0.94	$ 0.78
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	0.52	0.42	0.94	0.78
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.9225	$ 0.8700	$ 1.8450	$ 1.7400