Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Series C Preferred Stock	Series A Preferred Stock	Series B Preferred Stock	Dividend Paid Series C Preferred Stock	Dividend Paid Series A Preferred Stock	Dividend Paid Series B Preferred Stock	Dividend Declared	Dividend Declared Series C Preferred Stock	Dividend Declared Series A Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Series C Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Series A Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Series B Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Series C Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital Series A Preferred Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital Series B Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Series A Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Series B Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Paid Series C Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Paid Series A Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Paid Series B Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Declared	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Declared Series C Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Dividend Declared Series A Preferred Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Total Saul Centers, Inc.	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series C Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series A Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Series B Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Paid Series C Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Paid Series A Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Paid Series B Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Declared	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Declared Series C Preferred Stock	Total Saul Centers, Inc. Dividend Declared Series A Preferred Stock	Noncontrolling Interest	Noncontrolling Interest Dividend Declared
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 307,289										$ 179,328				$ 201	$ 246,557				$ (154,830)									$ (3,553)	$ 267,703										$ 39,586
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of 56,000 shares of Series C Cumulative preferred stock		135,221										140,000					(4,779)														135,221
Redemption of Cumulative preferred stock			(60,004)	(79,333)									(60,000)	(79,328)				2,212	3,007		(2,216)	(3,012)										(60,004)	(79,333)
Issuance of 471,829 shares of common stock:
426,326 shares pursuant to dividend reinvestment plan	18,421														4	18,417														18,421
45,503 shares due to exercise of employee stock options and issuance of directors’ deferred stock	2,313															2,313														2,313
Net income (loss)	22,668																			20,976										20,976										1,692
Change in unrealized loss on cash flow hedge	2,252																												1,680	1,680										572
Preferred stock distributions:
Preferred stock distributions					(3,689)	(2,413)	(1,468)		(2,406)	(800)													(3,689)	(2,413)	(1,468)		(2,406)	(800)						(3,689)	(2,413)	(1,468)		(2,406)	(800)
Common stock distributions	(19,577)																			(14,599)										(14,599)										(4,978)
Distributions payable preferred stock:
Distributions payable common stock ($0.36/share) and distributions payable partnership units ($0.36/unit)								(9,875)																		(7,386)											(7,386)				(2,489)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 308,599										$ 180,000				$ 205	$ 267,727				$ (171,843)									$ (1,873)	$ 274,216										$ 34,383