Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,153,414	$ 1,602,309
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	800,816	1,162,052
Selling, general and administrative	982,845	1,571,495
Total operating expenses	1,783,661	2,733,547
Loss on sale of assets	(12,738)	0
Operating loss	(642,985)	(1,131,238)
Other income (expenses):
Interest and dividend income	377	5,596
Realized gains on the sale of trading securities, net	0	144,812
Unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities, net	70,146	(399,545)
Interest expense	(59,008)	(79,519)
Other income (expense)	18,331	(1,702)
Total other income (expense)	29,846	(330,358)
Net loss before income tax	(613,139)	(1,461,596)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(40,198)	2,115
Net loss from continuing operations, net of income taxes	(572,941)	(1,463,711)
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations	0	(55,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(922,517)	139,790
Net loss	(1,495,458)	(1,378,921)
Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	529,557	(29)
Net loss attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	(965,901)	(1,378,950)
Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.13)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ 0.01
Total (in dollars per share)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.12)
Weighted average common shares - basic and diluted (in shares)	15,332,449	11,399,236
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net loss	(1,495,458)	(1,378,921)
Unrealized loss on marketable securities	(2,340)	(117,000)
Total comprehensive loss	(1,497,798)	(1,495,921)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	529,557	(29)
Comprehensive loss attributable to American International Industries, Inc.	$ (968,241)	$ (1,495,950)