Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 7,346,982	$ 9,458,245	$ 16,578,019	$ 17,944,055
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	4,461,083	6,860,318	9,688,864	12,212,272
Selling, general and administrative	3,380,699	2,251,973	8,733,228	7,484,823
Total operating expenses	7,841,782	9,112,291	18,422,092	19,697,095
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	3,513,824	(20,662)	3,513,824	760,542
Operating income (loss)	3,019,024	325,292	1,669,751	(992,498)
Other income (expenses):
Interest and dividend income	1,553	23,824	15,250	61,595
Delta lawsuit settlement	0	0	0	700,000
Consulting Service Income			0	1,370,000
Realized losses on the sale of trading securities	(534,320)	(414,607)	(793,410)	(96,293)
Unrealized gains on trading securities	289,425	360,937	205,957	158,881
Interest expense	(105,767)	(113,764)	(350,120)	(342,721)
Other income (expense)	(55,200)	4,168	(9,458)	100,166
Total other income (expense)	(404,309)	(139,442)	(931,781)	1,951,628
Income from continuing operations before income tax	2,614,715	185,850	737,970	959,130
Income tax expense	133,348	1,123	149,595	51,354
Net income from continuing operation	2,481,367	184,727	588,375	907,776
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations	0	0	(50,000)	0
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0	(352,021)	(4,410)	(1,079,662)
Net income (loss)	2,481,367	(167,294)	533,965	(171,886)
Net loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	4,861	(2,555)	27,362	410,646
Net income (loss) attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	2,486,228	(169,849)	561,327	238,760
Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.01	$ 0.04	$ 0.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ (0.11)
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ (0.02)	$ 0.04	$ 0.02
Weighted average common shares - basic and diluted (in shares)	14,832,445	10,080,504	13,072,335	9,780,898
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)	2,481,367	(167,294)	533,965	(171,886)
Unrealized loss on marketable securities	(11,050)	(500,000)	(121,550)	(320,000)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	2,470,317	(667,294)	412,415	(491,886)
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	4,861	(2,555)	27,362	410,646
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	$ 2,475,178	$ (669,849)	$ 439,777	$ (81,240)