Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	$ 413,026	$ 407,390	$ 831,124	$ 808,568
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	95,555	96,172	186,923	185,965
Real estate taxes and insurance	61,916	57,970	123,720	117,554
Depreciation and amortization	127,190	123,944	253,578	246,733
Total property operating expenses	284,661	278,086	564,221	550,252
Property management expenses	11,730	13,454	26,373	27,296
General and administrative expenses	10,557	10,398	23,821	22,735
Interest expense	42,118	45,936	85,600	91,636
(Gain) loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(2)		27	13
(Gain) loss on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(5)	(297)	371	(9,260)
Other non-operating (income) expense	(14,643)	(4,575)	13,889	(4,694)
Income before income tax expense	78,610	64,388	116,822	130,590
Income tax expense	(1,200)	(682)	(1,867)	(1,323)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	77,410	63,706	114,955	129,267
Income from real estate joint venture	318	435	725	832
Net income	77,728	64,141	115,680	130,099
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,666	2,224	3,970	4,522
Net income available for shareholders	75,062	61,917	111,710	125,577
Dividends to MAA Series I preferred shareholders	922	922	1,844	1,844
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 74,140	$ 60,995	$ 109,866	$ 123,733
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.65	$ 0.53	$ 0.96	$ 1.09
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.65	$ 0.53	$ 0.96	$ 1.09
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 74,140	$ 60,995	$ 109,866	$ 123,733
Limited Partner [Member]
Revenues:
Rental and other property revenues	413,026	407,390	831,124	808,568
Expenses:
Operating expenses, excluding real estate taxes and insurance	95,555	96,172	186,923	185,965
Real estate taxes and insurance	61,916	57,970	123,720	117,554
Depreciation and amortization	127,190	123,944	253,578	246,733
Total property operating expenses	284,661	278,086	564,221	550,252
Property management expenses	11,730	13,454	26,373	27,296
General and administrative expenses	10,557	10,398	23,821	22,735
Interest expense	42,118	45,936	85,600	91,636
(Gain) loss on sale of depreciable real estate assets	(2)		27	13
(Gain) loss on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(5)	(297)	371	(9,260)
Other non-operating (income) expense	(14,643)	(4,575)	13,889	(4,694)
Income before income tax expense	78,610	64,388	116,822	130,590
Income tax expense	(1,200)	(682)	(1,867)	(1,323)
Income from continuing operations before real estate joint venture activity	77,410	63,706	114,955	129,267
Income from real estate joint venture	318	435	725	832
Net income	77,728	64,141	115,680	130,099
Dividends to preferred unitholders	922	922	1,844	1,844
Net income available for shareholders	$ 76,806	$ 63,219	$ 113,836	$ 128,255
Earnings per common share - basic:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	$ 0.65	$ 0.53	$ 0.96	$ 1.09
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	0.65	0.53	0.96	1.09
Earnings per common share - diluted:
Net income available for MAA common shareholders	0.65	0.53	0.96	1.09
Net income available for MAALP common unitholders	$ 0.65	$ 0.53	$ 0.96	$ 1.09