Earnings Per Common Share of MAA - Schedule of Computation of Diluted Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 366,618	$ 231,022	$ 340,536
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests		(12,807)	(8,123)	(12,157)
Income from continuing operations allocated to unvested restricted shares		(519)	(291)	(535)
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash		(3,688)	(3,688)	(3,688)
Income from continuing operations available for common shareholders, adjusted		$ 349,604	$ 218,920	$ 324,156
Weighted average common shares - basic		113,854	113,638	113,407
Earnings per share - basic		$ 3.07	$ 1.93	$ 2.86
Income from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 366,618	$ 231,022	$ 340,536
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	[1]	12,807	8,123	12,157
Adjusted Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Available for Common Shareholders, Diluted		$ 350,123	$ 219,211	$ 324,691
Effect of dilutive securities		259	198	280
Weighted average common shares - diluted		114,113	113,836	113,687
Earnings per share - diluted		$ 3.07	$ 1.93	$ 2.86
Limited Partnership Units [Member]
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		4,100	4,100	4,200

[1] ^{For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, 4.1 million, 4.1 million and 4.2 million OP Units and their related income, respectively, are not included in the diluted earnings per share calculations as they are not dilutive.}