MAA Equity - Summary of Changes in Total Equity and its Components (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	$ (922)	$ (922)	$ (1,844)	$ (1,844)
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	6,103,362	6,019,533	6,153,907	6,088,408
Net Income Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	216,560	223,875	330,137	272,739
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments	277	278	556	557
Issuance and registration of common shares	453	(467)	432	(333)
Shares repurchased and retired	(10,869)	(7,313)	(14,031)	(9,043)
Exercise of stock options			28	1,466
Redeemable stock fair market value adjustment	(4,227)	(3,031)	6,760	(5,189)
Amortization of unearned compensation	4,401	4,151	11,329	10,144
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	(922)	(922)	(1,844)	(1,844)
Dividends on common stock	(144,396)	(117,872)	(269,829)	(235,150)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units	(4,002)	(3,696)	(7,481)	(7,852)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest			(43,070)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(69)
Contribution from noncontrolling interest		6,131	2,086	6,764
Ending Balance	6,168,116	6,120,667	6,168,116	6,120,667
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	9	9	9	9
Ending Balance	9	9	9	9
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,151	1,142	1,151	1,141
Issuance and registration of common shares	1	1	1	2
Shares issued in exchange for common units		4		4
Ending Balance	1,152	1,147	1,152	1,147
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	7,198,474	7,182,771	7,230,956	7,176,793
Issuance and registration of common shares	454	(468)	433	(335)
Shares repurchased and retired	(10,869)	(7,313)	(14,031)	(9,043)
Exercise of stock options			28	1,466
Shares issued in exchange for common units		21,928	193	22,160
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership	368	816	1,321	700
Amortization of unearned compensation	4,401	4,151	11,329	10,144
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest			(37,443)
Ending Balance	7,191,920	7,201,885	7,191,920	7,201,885
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member] | Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(1,268,827)	(1,367,347)	(1,255,807)	(1,294,182)
Net income attributable to MAA	210,702	216,478	321,504	263,671
Redeemable stock fair market value adjustment	(4,227)	(3,031)	6,760	(5,189)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	(922)	(922)	(1,844)	(1,844)
Dividends on common stock	144,396	117,872	(269,829)	(235,150)
Ending Balance	(1,199,216)	(1,272,694)	(1,199,216)	(1,272,694)
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(10,860)	(11,859)	(11,132)	(12,128)
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments	269	227	541	496
Ending Balance	(10,591)	(11,632)	(10,591)	(11,632)
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests - Operating Partnership [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	163,566	204,336	165,116	206,927
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	5,858	7,397	8,926	9,068
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments	8	51	15	61
Shares issued in exchange for common units		(21,932)	(193)	(22,164)
Adjustment for noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership	(368)	(816)	(1,321)	(700)
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units	4,002	3,696	(7,481)	(7,852)
Ending Balance	165,062	185,340	165,062	185,340
Mid America Apartment Communities Inc. Shareholders Equity [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests - Consolidated Real Estate Entities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	19,849	10,481	23,614	9,848
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			(293)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest			(5,627)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(69)
Contribution from noncontrolling interest		6,131	2,086	6,764
Ending Balance	$ 19,780	$ 16,612	$ 19,780	$ 16,612