Shareholders' Equity of MAA - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding		115,337,466	114,408,949	115,336,876
Total common shares and operating partnership units outstanding		118,539,843	118,462,055
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised, Net			$ 1.5
Equity Forward Sale Agreements [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	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		115,000
At The Market Offering [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock shares sold		0	0
Remaining common stock to be issued		4,000,000.0
Maximum [Member] | At The Market Offering [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized		4,000,000.0
Equity Option [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues		350	18,882
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Common Shares Issuable Upon Conversion Of Convertible Stock		3,202,377	4,053,106
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock shares, outstanding option		463	963