Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Land		$ 1,905,757,000	$ 1,868,828,000
Buildings and improvements and other		11,841,978,000	11,670,216,000
Development and capital improvements in progress		116,424,000	59,506,000
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost		13,864,159,000	13,598,550,000
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(2,955,253,000)	(2,549,287,000)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net		10,908,906,000	11,049,263,000
Undeveloped land		34,548,000	58,257,000
Investment in real estate joint venture		43,674,000	44,181,000
Real estate assets, net		10,987,128,000	11,151,701,000
Cash and cash equivalents		20,476,000	34,259,000
Restricted cash		50,065,000	17,414,000
Other assets		172,781,000	120,407,000
Total assets		11,230,450,000	11,323,781,000
Liabilities and equity
Unsecured notes payable		3,828,201,000	4,053,302,000
Secured notes payable		626,397,000	475,026,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		472,262,000	413,850,000
Total liabilities		4,926,860,000	4,942,178,000
Due to general partner		19,000	19,000
Redeemable common stock		14,131,000	9,414,000
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Value, Outstanding		9,000	9,000
Common stock	[1]	1,140,000	1,136,000
Additional paid-in capital		7,166,073,000	7,138,170,000
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income		(1,085,479,000)	(989,263,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,178,000)	(212,000)
Total MAA shareholders' equity		6,068,565,000	6,149,840,000
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership units		214,647,000	220,043,000
Total Company's shareholders' equity		6,283,212,000	6,369,883,000
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities		6,247,000	2,306,000
Total equity		6,289,459,000	6,372,189,000
Total liabilities and equity		11,230,450,000	11,323,781,000
Liabilities:
Redeemable common stock		14,131,000	9,414,000
Operating Partnership capital:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,178,000)	(212,000)
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities		6,247,000	2,306,000
Total equity		6,289,440,000
Limited Partner [Member]
Assets
Land		1,905,757,000	1,868,828,000
Buildings and improvements and other		11,841,978,000	11,670,216,000
Development and capital improvements in progress		116,424,000	59,506,000
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost		13,864,159,000	13,598,550,000
Less: Accumulated depreciation		(2,955,253,000)	(2,549,287,000)
Real Estate Investment Property, Net		10,908,906,000	11,049,263,000
Investment in real estate joint venture		43,674,000	44,181,000
Real estate assets, net		10,987,128,000	11,151,701,000
Cash and cash equivalents		20,476,000	34,259,000
Restricted cash		50,065,000	17,414,000
Other assets		172,781,000	120,407,000
Total assets		11,230,450,000	11,323,781,000
Undeveloped land		34,548,000	58,257,000
Liabilities and equity
Unsecured notes payable		3,828,201,000	4,053,302,000
Secured notes payable		626,397,000	475,026,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		472,262,000	413,850,000
Total liabilities		4,926,879,000	4,942,197,000
Due to general partner		19,000	19,000
Redeemable common stock		14,131,000	9,414,000
Shareholders' equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,584,000)	(161,000)
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities		6,247,000	2,306,000
Liabilities:
Redeemable common stock		14,131,000	9,414,000
Operating Partnership capital:
Preferred Units, Preferred Partners' Capital Accounts		66,840,000	66,840,000
General Partners' Capital Account	[2]	6,015,290,000	6,083,142,000
Limited Partners' Capital Account	[2]	214,647,000	220,043,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,584,000)	(161,000)
Total operating partners’ capital		6,283,193,000	6,369,864,000
Noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities		6,247,000	2,306,000
Total equity		6,289,440,000	6,372,170,000
Total liabilities and equity		$ 11,230,450,000	$ 11,323,781,000

[1] ^{Number of shares issued and outstanding represent total shares of common stock regardless of classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The number of shares classified as redeemable common stock on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are 107,162 and 98,371 shares, respectively.}

[2] ^{Number of units outstanding represents total OP Units regardless of classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The number of units classified as redeemable common units on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are 107,162 and 98,371 shares, respectively.}