Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Limited Partner [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 401,178	$ 386,017
Property operating expenses:
Total property operating expenses	89,793	89,148
Real estate taxes and insurance	59,584	55,256
Depreciation and amortization	122,789	120,744
Operating Expenses	272,166	265,148
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	13,842	12,880
General and administrative expenses	13,153	10,132
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	0	3,799
Interest expense	(45,700)	(40,905)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	13	0
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(8,963)	(150)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(935)	2,341
Income before income tax expense	66,202	50,962
Income tax expense	(641)	(640)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	65,561	50,322
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	397	498
Consolidated net income	65,958	50,820
Preferred Unit Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922
Net income available for Mid-America Apartments, L.P. common unitholders	$ 65,036	$ 49,898
Earnings per common share - basic:
Earnings per unit - basic	$ 0.55	$ 0.42
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Earnings per unit - diluted	$ 0.55	$ 0.42
Parent Company [Member]
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 401,178	$ 386,017
Property operating expenses:
Total property operating expenses	89,793	89,148
Real estate taxes and insurance	59,584	55,256
Depreciation and amortization	122,789	120,744
Operating Expenses	272,166	265,148
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	13,842	12,880
General and administrative expenses	13,153	10,132
Business Combination, Merger and Integration Related Expenses	0	3,799
Interest expense	(45,700)	(40,905)
Gain (Loss) on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	13	0
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(8,963)	(150)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(935)	2,341
Income before income tax expense	66,202	50,962
Income tax expense	(641)	(640)
Income from continuing operations before joint venture activity	65,561	50,322
Gain (loss) from real estate joint ventures	397	498
Consolidated net income	65,958	50,820
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,298	1,801
Net income available for shareholders	63,660	49,019
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact	922	922
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 62,738	$ 48,097
Earnings per common share - basic:
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.55	$ 0.42
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.55	$ 0.42