Earnings Per Common Share of MAA - Schedule of Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 550,702	$ 264,015	$ 366,618
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		(16,911)	(9,053)	(12,807)
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		(539)	(338)	(519)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		(3,688)	(3,688)	(3,688)
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		$ 529,564	$ 250,936	$ 349,604
Weighted average common shares - basic		114,717,000	114,188,000	113,854,000
Earnings per common share - basic		$ 4.62	$ 2.20	$ 3.07
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 550,702	$ 264,015	$ 366,618
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	[1]	16,911	9,053	12,807
Net income available for MAA common shareholders, adjusted		$ 530,103	$ 251,274	$ 350,123
Effect of dilutive securities		322	312	259
Weighted average common shares - diluted		115,039,000	114,500,000	114,113,000
Net income available for MAA common shareholders		$ 4.61	$ 2.19	$ 3.07
Limited Partnership Units [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		3,700,000	4,100,000	4,100,000

[1] For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, 3.7 million, 4.1 million and 4.1 million OP Units and their related income are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations as they are not dilutive.