Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 397,108	$ 384,550	$ 1,173,198	$ 1,146,249
Property operating expenses:
Total property operating expenses	97,703	96,582	279,831	275,688
Real estate taxes and insurance	57,037	52,597	168,043	160,733
Depreciation and amortization	124,549	117,928	368,218	374,285
Operating Expenses	279,289	267,107	816,092	810,706
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	11,303	10,281	35,579	32,007
General and administrative expenses	6,380	8,361	25,723	30,735
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	1,878	4,130	8,503	14,498
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	98,258	94,671	287,301	258,303
Interest expense	(44,650)	(39,940)	(129,140)	(115,005)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	(23)	58,844	(21)	59,045
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	959	(6)	3,870	42
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	374	5,695	6,065	11,033
Income before income tax expense	54,918	119,264	168,075	213,418
Income tax expense	(616)	(641)	(1,826)	(1,910)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	54,302	118,623	166,249	211,508
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	402	335	1,256	1,021
Consolidated net income	54,704	118,958	167,505	212,529
Preferred Unit Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922	2,766	2,766
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 53,782	$ 118,036	$ 164,739	$ 209,763
Earnings per common share - basic:
Earnings per unit - basic	$ 0.46	$ 1.00	$ 1.40	$ 1.78
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Earnings per unit - diluted	0.46	1.00	1.40	1.78
Distribution Made to Limited Partner, Distributions Declared, Per Unit	$ 0.9225	$ 0.8700	$ 2.7675	$ 2.6100
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 397,108	$ 384,550	$ 1,173,198	$ 1,146,249
Property operating expenses:
Total property operating expenses	97,703	96,582	279,831	275,688
Real estate taxes and insurance	57,037	52,597	168,043	160,733
Depreciation and amortization	124,549	117,928	368,218	374,285
Operating Expenses	279,289	267,107	816,092	810,706
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	11,303	10,281	35,579	32,007
General and administrative expenses	6,380	8,361	25,723	30,735
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	1,878	4,130	8,503	14,498
Income from continuing operations before non-operating items	98,258	94,671	287,301	258,303
Interest expense	(44,650)	(39,940)	(129,140)	(115,005)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	(23)	58,844	(21)	59,045
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	959	(6)	3,870	42
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	374	5,695	6,065	11,033
Income before income tax expense	54,918	119,264	168,075	213,418
Income tax expense	(616)	(641)	(1,826)	(1,910)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	54,302	118,623	166,249	211,508
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	402	335	1,256	1,021
Consolidated net income	54,704	118,958	167,505	212,529
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,913	4,249	5,888	7,600
Net income available for shareholders	52,791	114,709	161,617	204,929
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922	2,766	2,766
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 51,869	$ 113,787	$ 158,851	$ 202,163
Earnings per common share - basic:
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.46	$ 1.00	$ 1.40	$ 1.78
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	0.46	1.00	1.40	1.78
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.9225	$ 0.8700	$ 2.7675	$ 2.6100