Cover page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 22, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Document and Entity Information
entity registrant name	Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc.
entity CIK	0001481832
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
document fiscal year focus	2021
document fiscal period focus	FY
amendment flag	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
entity common stock, shares outstanding		55,734,724
Entity Public Float			$ 499,414,208
Entity File Number	001-34995
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-1712193
Entity Address, Address Line One	3284 Northside Parkway NW, Suite 150
Entity Address, State or Province	GA
Entity Address, City or Town	Atlanta
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	30327
document type	10-K
document period end date	Dec. 31, 2021
City Area Code	(770)
Local Phone Number	818-4100
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol	APTS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
entity filer category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Document and Entity Information
Title of 12(g) Security	Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Redeemable Preferred Stock
Document and Entity Information
Title of 12(g) Security	Series M Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Series B Preferred Stock
Document and Entity Information
Title of 12(g) Security	Series A1 Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Series C Preferred Stock
Document and Entity Information
Title of 12(g) Security	Series M1 Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share