Segment Information (Revenues and NOI for Reportable Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses										$ (20,000)	$ (40,800)
Parent Company [Member]
Revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 398,148	$ 397,108	$ 390,073	$ 386,017	$ 382,738	$ 384,550	$ 382,791	$ 378,908	$ 1,571,346	1,528,987	1,125,348
Net operating income									976,758	952,256	701,992
Depreciation and amortization									(489,759)	(493,708)	(322,958)
Other Cost and Expense, Operating									(47,633)	(43,588)	(34,093)
General and administrative expense									(34,786)	(40,194)	(29,040)
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses									(9,112)	(19,990)	(40,823)
Interest expense									(173,594)	(154,751)	(129,947)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations									(39)	127,386	80,397
Income tax expense									(2,611)	(2,619)	(1,699)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets									4,532	21	2,171
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)									5,434	14,353	(1,839)
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures									1,832	1,370	241
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(8,123)	(12,157)	(12,180)
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact									(3,688)	(3,688)	(307)
Net income attributable to MAA	$ 60,360	$ 51,869	$ 58,885	$ 48,097	$ 122,528	$ 113,787	$ 47,393	$ 40,983	219,211	324,691	211,915
Parent Company [Member] | Same Store [Member]
Revenues
Total operating revenues									1,441,811	1,414,839	992,721
Net operating income									905,756	889,176	620,567
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									1,340,914	1,313,836	909,688
Property Management Fee Revenue									89,281	88,774	74,814
Other Operating Income									11,616	12,229	8,219
Parent Company [Member] | Non Same Store And Other
Revenues
Total operating revenues									129,535	114,148	132,627
Net operating income									71,002	63,080	81,425	[1]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax									123,112	105,865	121,964
Property Management Fee Revenue									5,483	5,282	8,733
Other Operating Income									$ 940	$ 3,001	$ 1,930

[1] The 2016 column shows the segment break down based on the 2017 Same Store portfolio. A comparison using the 2018 Same Store portfolio would not be comparative due to the nature of the segment classifications.