Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 21,726,622	$ 23,484,846
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	13,020,067	15,708,172
Selling, general and administrative	12,617,031	11,068,833
Impairment on real estate held for sale	80,000	0
Total operating expenses	25,717,098	26,777,005
Gain on sale of assets	1,900,491	763,597
Operating loss	(2,089,985)	(2,528,562)
Other income (expenses):
Interest and dividend income	20,764	96,456
Botts lawsuit settlement	0	(1,650,000)
Delta lawsuit settlement	0	700,000
Consulting service income	0	1,370,000
Realized losses on the sale of trading securities	(2,691,069)	(1,225,904)
Unrealized gains on trading securities	1,880,432	1,659,902
Interest expense	(477,455)	(459,436)
Other income (expense)	53,236	186,433
Total other income (expense)	(1,214,092)	677,451
Loss before income tax	(3,304,077)	(1,851,111)
Income tax expense (benefit)	159,555	(12,521)
Loss from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(3,463,632)	(1,838,590)
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations	(50,000)	2,954,974
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(4,410)	(1,552,504)
Net loss	(3,518,042)	(436,120)
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	258,711	493,083
Net income (loss) attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	(3,259,331)	56,963
Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.13)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.14
Total (in dollars per share)	$ (0.24)	$ 0.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	13,594,031	9,938,013
Comprehensive loss
Net loss	(3,518,042)	(436,120)
Unrealized loss on marketable securities	(122,200)	(1,275,000)
Total comprehensive loss	(3,640,242)	(1,711,120)
Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	258,711	493,083
Comprehensive loss attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	$ (3,381,531)	$ (1,218,037)