Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Nov. 01, 2017
Document Information
Entity Registrant Name	American Homes 4 Rent
Entity Central Index Key	0001562401
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Statues	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Class A common shares/units
Document Information
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		286,103,292
Class B common shares
Document Information
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		635,075