Earnings Per Common Share of MAA Earnings Per Common Share of MAA (Details) - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 65,958	$ 50,820
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		$ 922	$ 922
Weighted average common shares - basic		113,726	113,507
Effect of dilutive securities		207	0
Weighted average common shares - diluted		113,933	113,507
Calculation of Basic Earnings per Share [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 65,958	$ 50,820
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		(2,298)	(1,801)
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		(87)	(79)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		(922)	(922)
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		$ 62,651	$ 48,018
Earnings per share - basic		$ 0.55	$ 0.42
Calculation of Diluted Earnings per Share [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 65,958	$ 50,820
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	[1]	(2,298)	(1,801)
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		0	(79)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		(922)	(922)
Adjusted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Available for Common Shareholders, Diluted		$ 62,738	$ 48,018
Earnings per share - diluted		$ 0.55	$ 0.42
Limited Partnership Units [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		4,100	4,200
Restricted Stock [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			200

[1] (1) For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, 4.1 million OP Units and 4.2 million OP Units, respectively, and their related income are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations as they are not dilutive.