Earnings per Share / Unit - Computation of Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$ 19,097	$ (167)	$ 45,959	$ 1,108
Less:
Noncontrolling interest	309	7,316	(22)	10,391
Dividends on preferred shares/Preferred distributions	17,253	13,669	46,122	26,650
Allocation to participating securities	12	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1,523	(21,152)	(141)	(35,933)
Add back:
Dividends on participating preferred shares/units	5,569	0	0	0
Remeasurement of participating preferred shares/units	(8,391)	0	0	0
Numerator for diluted loss per common share/unit	$ (1,299)	$ (21,152)	$ (141)	$ (35,933)
Denominator
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	266,767,313	238,401,343	256,768,343	232,036,802
Participating preferred shares/units (in shares)	22,385,747	0	0	0
Weighted-average common shares outstanding–diluted (in shares)	289,153,060	238,401,343	256,768,343	232,036,802
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders/unitholders per share/unit
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.09)	$ 0.00	$ (0.15)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.09)	$ 0.00	$ (0.15)
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$ 19,097	$ (167)	$ 45,959	$ 1,108
Less:
Noncontrolling interest	(31)	(226)	8	(446)
Dividends on preferred shares/Preferred distributions	17,253	13,669	46,122	26,650
Income allocated to limited partners	0	10,915	0	16,478
Allocation to participating securities	12	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	1,863	(24,525)	(171)	(41,574)
Add back:
Dividends on participating preferred shares/units	5,569	0	0	0
Remeasurement of participating preferred shares/units	(8,391)	0	0	0
Numerator for diluted loss per common share/unit	$ (959)	$ (24,525)	$ (171)	$ (41,574)
Denominator
Participating preferred shares/units (in shares)	22,385,747	0	0	0
Weighted-average common units outstanding - basic (in shares)	322,303,138	285,208,489	312,315,728	271,994,345
Weighted-average common units outstanding–diluted (in shares)	344,688,885	285,208,489	312,315,728	271,994,345
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders/unitholders per share/unit
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.09)	$ 0.00	$ (0.15)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.09)	$ 0.00	$ (0.15)