<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-03-23</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001562401</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>American Homes 4 Rent</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275331</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENHAM DOUGLAS N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN HOMES 4 RENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>30601 AGOURA ROAD, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AGOURA HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91301</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16707</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12208</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-03-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-03-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Class A Units of American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. (AMH OP) the operating partnership of American Homes 4 Rent (the &quot;Issuer&quot;). Class A units are redeemable (subject to limitations set forth in AMH OP's partnership agreement. Class A Units do not expire.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Class A units are redeemable at a redemption amount per unit based on the market value of the Company's Class A common shares at the time of redemption. The market value will be equal to the average of the closing trading price of the Class A common shares for the 10 trading days before the date of receipt of the redemption notice. The Company may elect in its sole discretion whether to redeem the Class A units in cash or Class A common shares equal to the number of Class A units offered for redemption.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options become exercisable in four equal annual installments begining on the &quot;Date Exerciseable&quot; indicated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephanie Heim, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
