Debt - Summary of Senior Unsecured Notes (Details) - AMERICAN CAMPUS COMMUNITIES OPERATING PARTNERSHIP LP - USD ($)	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jan. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020
Unsecured notes, net
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 2,400,000,000		$ 2,400,000,000
Original Issue Discount			7,648,000
Senior notes - April 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000
% of Par Value			99.659%
Coupon (percent)	3.75%		3.75%
Yield (percent)	3.791%		3.791%
Original Issue Discount			$ 1,364,000
Debt Instrument, Term			10 years
Senior notes - June 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000
% of Par Value			99.861%
Coupon (percent)	4.125%		4.125%
Yield (percent)	4.269%		4.269%
Original Issue Discount			$ 556,000
Debt Instrument, Term			10 years
Senior notes - October 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000
% of Par Value			99.912%
Coupon (percent)	3.625%		3.625%
Yield (percent)	3.635%		3.635%
Original Issue Discount			$ 352,000
Debt Instrument, Term			10 years
Senior Notes - June 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000
% of Par Value			99.704%
Coupon (percent)	3.30%		3.30%
Yield (percent)	3.68%		3.68%
Original Issue Discount			$ 1,184,000
Debt Instrument, Term			7 years
Senior Notes - January 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
% of Par Value		99.81%	99.81%
Coupon (percent)	2.85%	2.85%	2.85%
Yield (percent)	2.872%		2.872%
Original Issue Discount			$ 760,000
Debt Instrument, Term			10 years
Senior Notes - June 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount	$ 400,000,000.0		$ 400,000,000.0
% of Par Value	99.142%		99.142%
Coupon (percent)	3.875%		3.875%
Yield (percent)	3.974%		3.974%
Original Issue Discount			$ 3,432,000
Debt Instrument, Term			10 years