Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 1,778,082	$ 1,677,984	$ 1,641,017
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	404,288	387,966	377,453
Real estate taxes and insurance	266,877	252,505	235,392
Depreciation and amortization	533,433	510,842	496,843
Total property operating expenses	1,204,598	1,151,313	1,109,688
Property management expenses	55,732	52,300	55,011
General and administrative expenses	52,884	46,858	43,845
Interest expense	156,881	167,562	179,847
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(220,428)	(9)	(80,988)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(811)	(1,024)	(12,047)
Other non-operating income	(33,902)	(4,857)	(22,999)
Income before income tax expense	563,128	265,841	368,660
Income tax expense	(13,637)	(3,327)	(3,696)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	549,491	262,514	364,964
Income from real estate joint venture	1,211	1,501	1,654
Net income	550,702	264,015	366,618
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	16,911	9,053	12,807
Net income available for shareholders	533,791	254,962	353,811
Distributions to MAALP preferred unitholders	3,688	3,688	3,688
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 530,103	$ 251,274	$ 350,123
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 4.62	$ 2.20	$ 3.07
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 4.61	$ 2.19	$ 3.07
Limited Partner [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 1,778,082	$ 1,677,984	$ 1,641,017
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	404,288	387,966	377,453
Real estate taxes and insurance	266,877	252,505	235,392
Depreciation and amortization	533,433	510,842	496,843
Total property operating expenses	1,204,598	1,151,313	1,109,688
Property management expenses	55,732	52,300	55,011
General and administrative expenses	52,884	46,858	43,845
Interest expense	156,881	167,562	179,847
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(220,428)	(9)	(80,988)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(811)	(1,024)	(12,047)
Other non-operating income	(33,902)	(4,857)	(22,999)
Income before income tax expense	563,128	265,841	368,660
Income tax expense	(13,637)	(3,327)	(3,696)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	549,491	262,514	364,964
Income from real estate joint venture	1,211	1,501	1,654
Net income	550,702	264,015	366,618
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	136
Net income available for shareholders	550,702	264,015	366,482
Distributions to MAALP preferred unitholders	3,688	3,688	3,688
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 547,014	$ 260,327	$ 362,794
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 4.62	$ 2.20	$ 3.07
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	4.62	2.20	3.07
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	4.61	2.20	3.07
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	$ 4.61	$ 2.20	$ 3.07