Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 5,006,029	$ 4,758,595	$ 9,231,037	$ 8,485,810
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	2,999,218	3,018,531	5,227,781	5,351,954
Selling, general and administrative	2,400,085	2,120,048	5,352,529	5,232,850
Total operating expenses	5,399,303	5,138,579	10,580,310	10,584,804
Operating loss	(393,274)	(379,984)	(1,349,273)	(2,098,994)
Other income (expenses):
Interest and dividend income	8,101	17,360	13,697	37,771
Gain on sale of assets	0	781,204	0	781,204
Delta lawsuit settlement	0	0	0	700,000
Consulting Service Income	0	1,370,000	0	1,370,000
Realized gains (losses) on the sale of trading securities	(401,655)	214,003	(259,090)	318,314
Unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities	316,170	(139,975)	(83,468)	(202,056)
Interest expense	(124,999)	(102,132)	(244,353)	(228,957)
Other income	29,932	81,617	45,742	95,998
Total other income (expense)	(172,451)	2,222,077	(527,472)	2,872,274
Net income (loss) before income tax	(565,725)	1,842,093	(1,876,745)	773,280
Income tax expense	7,756	36,451	16,247	50,231
Net income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(573,481)	1,805,642	(1,892,992)	723,049
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations	5,000	0	(50,000)	0
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	(362,491)	(4,410)	(727,641)
Net income (loss)	(568,481)	1,443,151	(1,947,402)	(4,592)
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	22,530	69,867	22,501	413,201
Net income (loss) attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	(545,951)	1,513,018	(1,924,901)	408,609
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.19	$ (0.16)	$ 0.12
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)	$ 0.00	$ (0.08)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.15	$ (0.16)	$ 0.04
Weighted average common shares - basic and diluted (in shares)	12,947,596	10,005,069	12,177,693	9,622,579
Comprehensive loss
Net loss	(568,481)	1,443,151	(1,947,402)	(4,592)
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	6,500	180,000	(110,500)	180,000
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(561,981)	1,623,151	(2,057,902)	175,408
Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	22,530	69,867	22,501	413,201
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	$ (539,451)	$ 1,693,018	$ (2,035,401)	$ 588,609