Shareholders' Equity of MAA - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Nov. 30, 2021
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding		115,336,876	114,373,727
Total common shares and operating partnership units outstanding		118,542,994	118,431,384
Common stock, shares authorized		145,000,000	145,000,000
At The Market Offering
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock shares sold		0	0	146,301
Net proceeds from share issued				$ 19,600
Remaining common stock to sale		4,000,000.0
Maximum [Member] | At The Market Offering
Equity [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized					4,000,000.0
Dividend And Distribution Reinvestment And Share Purchase Plan
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock issued for shareholders to reinvest distributions (shares)		6,301	8,259	16,219
Dividend And Distribution Reinvestment And Share Purchase Plan | Minimum [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Optional cash investments in common shares		$ 250
Dividend And Distribution Reinvestment And Share Purchase Plan | Maximum [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Optional cash investments in common shares		$ 5,000
Common stock, shares authorized		1,906,762
Discount rate on sale of common stock (percent)		5.00%
Equity Forward Sale Agreements [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Issuance and registration of common shares, Shares	1,100,000
Common stock, price per share	$ 190.56
Common stock settlement under agreement	0
Common shares attributable to dilutive effect of equity forward agreements		0
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Common Shares Issuable Upon Conversion Of Convertible Stock		3,206,118	4,057,657