Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 415,632	$ 397,108	$ 1,224,200	$ 1,173,198
Expenses:
Operating expense, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	100,319	97,703	286,284	279,831
Real estate taxes and insurance	59,220	57,037	176,774	168,043
Depreciation and amortization	124,684	124,549	371,417	368,218
Total property operating expenses	284,223	279,289	834,475	816,092
Property management expenses	13,899	11,303	41,195	35,579
General and administrative expenses	11,485	6,380	35,236	25,723
Merger and integration related expenses		1,878		8,503
Interest expense	44,513	44,650	136,149	129,140
(Gain) loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(1,000)	23	(987)	21
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets		(959)	(9,260)	(3,870)
Other non-operating income	(20,060)	(374)	(25,770)	(6,065)
Income before income tax expense	82,572	54,918	213,162	168,075
Income tax expense	(1,491)	(616)	(2,814)	(1,826)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	81,081	54,302	210,348	166,249
Income from real estate joint venture	378	402	1,210	1,256
Net income	81,459	54,704	211,558	167,505
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,814	1,913	7,336	5,888
Net income available for shareholders	78,645	52,791	204,222	161,617
Dividends to MAA Series I preferred shareholders	922	922	2,766	2,766
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 77,723	$ 51,869	$ 201,456	$ 158,851
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.68	$ 0.46	$ 1.77	$ 1.40
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.68	$ 0.46	$ 1.77	$ 1.40
Limited Partner [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 415,632	$ 397,108	$ 1,224,200	$ 1,173,198
Expenses:
Operating expense, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	100,319	97,703	286,284	279,831
Real estate taxes and insurance	59,220	57,037	176,774	168,043
Depreciation and amortization	124,684	124,549	371,417	368,218
Total property operating expenses	284,223	279,289	834,475	816,092
Property management expenses	13,899	11,303	41,195	35,579
General and administrative expenses	11,485	6,380	35,236	25,723
Merger and integration related expenses		1,878		8,503
Interest expense	44,513	44,650	136,149	129,140
(Gain) loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(1,000)	23	(987)	21
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets		(959)	(9,260)	(3,870)
Other non-operating income	(20,060)	(374)	(25,770)	(6,065)
Income before income tax expense	82,572	54,918	213,162	168,075
Income tax expense	(1,491)	(616)	(2,814)	(1,826)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	81,081	54,302	210,348	166,249
Income from real estate joint venture	378	402	1,210	1,256
Net income	81,459	54,704	211,558	167,505
Dividends to preferred unitholders	922	922	2,766	2,766
Net income available for shareholders	$ 80,537	$ 53,782	$ 208,792	$ 164,739
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.68	$ 0.46	$ 1.77	$ 1.40
Net income available for common shareholders	0.68	0.46	1.77	1.40
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for common shareholders	0.68	0.46	1.77	1.40
Net income available for common shareholders	$ 0.68	$ 0.46	$ 1.77	$ 1.40