Condensed Consolidated Statement of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Distributions to equity holders:
Noncontrolling interests		$ (8,333)
Net income (loss)	$ 19,097	45,959
Total other comprehensive loss	0	(95)
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance		4,937,620
Share-based compensation		3,175
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes		630
Issuance of Class A common units, net of offering costs of $10,759		684,007
Issuance of perpetual preferred units, net of offering costs of $9,355		260,645
Redemptions of Class A units		(169)
Distributions to equity holders:
Preferred units		(46,122)
Noncontrolling interests		0
Common units		(47,223)
Net income (loss)	19,097	45,959
Total other comprehensive loss	0	(95)
Total capital, ending balance	5,838,427	5,838,427
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Total partners' capital
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance		4,939,110
Share-based compensation		3,175
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes		630
Issuance of Class A common units, net of offering costs of $10,759		684,007
Issuance of perpetual preferred units, net of offering costs of $9,355		260,645
Redemptions of Class A units		(169)
Distributions to equity holders:
Preferred units		(46,122)
Noncontrolling interests		0
Common units		(47,223)
Net income (loss)		45,951
Total other comprehensive loss		(95)
Total capital, ending balance	5,839,909	5,839,909
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Accumulated other comprehensive income
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance		95
Distributions to equity holders:
Total other comprehensive loss		(95)
Total capital, ending balance	0	0
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Noncontrolling interest
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance		(1,490)
Distributions to equity holders:
Net income (loss)		8
Total capital, ending balance	(1,482)	(1,482)
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | General Partner | Common Units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance		$ 3,357,992
Beginning balance (in shares)		243,375,557
Share-based compensation		$ 3,175
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes		$ 630
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes (in shares)		89,829
Issuance of Class A common units, net of offering costs of $10,759		$ 684,007
Issuance of Class A common units, net of offering costs $10,759 (in shares)		30,676,080
Redemptions of Class A units		$ 1,322
Redemptions of Class A units (in shares)		99,312
Distributions to equity holders:
Common units		$ (38,890)
Net income (loss)		(141)
Total capital, ending balance	$ 4,008,095	$ 4,008,095
Ending balance (in shares)	274,240,778	274,240,778
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | General Partner | Preferred Shares/Units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance		$ 834,849
Issuance of perpetual preferred units, net of offering costs of $9,355		260,645
Distributions to equity holders:
Preferred units		(46,122)
Net income (loss)		46,122
Total capital, ending balance	$ 1,095,494	1,095,494
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Limited Partners | Common Units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance		$ 746,174
Beginning balance (in shares)		55,555,960
Redemptions of Class A units		$ (1,491)
Redemptions of Class A units (in shares)		(106,494)
Distributions to equity holders:
Common units		$ (8,333)
Net income (loss)		(30)
Total capital, ending balance	$ 736,320	$ 736,320
Ending balance (in shares)	55,449,466	55,449,466