Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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
Interest expense									(173,594)	(154,751)	(129,947)
Loss from real estate joint ventures									1,832	1,370	241
Consolidated net income	63,517	54,704	61,981	50,820	128,007	118,958	50,155	43,416	231,022	340,536	224,402
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									8,123	12,157	12,180
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact									3,688	3,688	307
Net income (loss) available for MAA common shareholders	$ 60,360	$ 51,869	$ 58,885	$ 48,097	$ 122,528	$ 113,787	$ 47,393	$ 40,983	$ 219,211	$ 324,691	$ 211,915
Earnings per share - basic	$ 0.53	$ 0.46	$ 0.52	$ 0.42	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 1.93	$ 2.86	$ 2.69
Earnings per share - diluted	$ 0.53	$ 0.46	$ 0.52	$ 0.42	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	1.93	2.86	2.69
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid									$ 3.69	$ 3.48	$ 3.28
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities									$ 734,292	$ 660,800	$ 485,004
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised									916	432	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities									(366,350)	(294,210)	(649,131)
Payments To Acquire Real Estate And Other Assets									(129,487)	(136,065)	(339,186)
Payments for Capital Improvements									(254,715)	(343,890)	(183,977)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									(405,136)	(399,523)	222,286
Limited Partner [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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
Interest expense									(173,594)	(154,751)	(129,947)
Loss from real estate joint ventures									1,832	1,370	241
Consolidated net income	63,517	54,704	61,981	50,820	128,007	118,958	50,155	43,416	231,022	340,536	224,402
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact									(3,688)	(3,688)	(307)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Unitholders	$ 62,595	$ 53,782	$ 61,059	$ 49,898	$ 127,085	$ 118,036	$ 49,233	$ 42,494
Earnings per share - basic	$ 0.53	$ 0.46	$ 0.52	$ 0.42	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36
Earnings per share - diluted	$ 0.53	$ 0.46	$ 0.52	$ 0.42	$ 1.08	$ 1.00	$ 0.42	$ 0.36
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities									734,292	660,800	485,004
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised									916	432	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities									(366,350)	(294,210)	(649,131)
Payments To Acquire Real Estate And Other Assets									(129,487)	(136,065)	(339,186)
Payments for Capital Improvements									(254,715)	(343,890)	(183,977)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									$ (405,136)	$ (399,523)	$ 222,286