Cover - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 24, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32265
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	76-0753089
Entity Address, Address Line One	12700 Hill Country Blvd.,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite T-200
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	78738
Entity Address, City or Town	Austin,
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
City Area Code	512
Local Phone Number	732-1000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol	ACC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding (in shares)		137,632,091
Entity Central Index Key	0001283630
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity File Number	333-181102-01
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	56-2473181
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001357369
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2