Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real estate investments
Land	$ 354,967	$ 353,890
Buildings and equipment	1,094,605	1,109,911
Construction in progress	9,867	2,267
Total	1,459,439	1,466,068
Accumulated depreciation	(364,663)	(353,305)
Real estate investments, net	1,094,776	1,112,763
Cash and cash equivalents	17,297	12,133
Accounts receivable and accrued income, net	43,884	41,406
Deferred leasing costs, net	26,052	26,102
Prepaid expenses, net	4,047	3,895
Deferred debt costs, net	9,675	7,713
Other assets	2,944	3,297
Total assets	1,198,675	1,207,309
Liabilities
Mortgage notes payable	820,068	789,776
Revolving credit facility payable	0	38,000
Dividends and distributions payable	13,135	13,490
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	20,141	27,434
Deferred income	30,205	31,320
Total liabilities	883,549	900,020
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, 20,576,616 and 20,045,542 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	206	201
Additional paid-in capital	270,428	246,557
Accumulated deficit	(172,564)	(154,830)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,392)	(3,553)
Total Saul Centers, Inc. stockholders' equity	276,678	267,703
Noncontrolling interest	38,448	39,586
Total stockholders' equity	315,126	307,289
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,198,675	1,207,309
Series A Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock	40,000	100,000
Series B Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock	0	79,328
Series C Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred stock	$ 140,000	$ 0