Earnings per Share / Unit - Computation of Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Numerator:
Net income	$ 40,304	$ 33,091	$ 25,898	$ 21,525	$ 73,395	$ 47,423
Less:
Noncontrolling interest	4,004		(3,150)		7,030	(2,036)
Dividends on preferred shares/Preferred distributions	13,782	$ 13,782	11,984	$ 14,597	27,564	26,581
Redemption of participating preferred shares/units	0		32,215		0	32,215
Allocation to participating securities	45		0		75	0
Numerator for basic income per common share/units - basic and diluted	$ 22,473		$ (15,151)		$ 38,726	$ (9,337)
Denominator
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	299,466,526		295,462,572		298,157,413	290,848,633
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based compensation plan (in shares)	524,558		0		519,375	0
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	299,991,084		295,462,572		298,676,788	290,848,633
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders/unitholders per share/unit
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08		$ (0.05)		$ 0.13	$ (0.03)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08		$ (0.05)		$ 0.13	$ (0.03)
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Numerator:
Net income	$ 40,304		$ 25,898		$ 73,395	$ 47,423
Less:
Noncontrolling interest	0		(248)		0	(259)
Dividends on preferred shares/Preferred distributions	13,782		11,984		27,564	26,581
Redemption of participating preferred shares/units	0		32,215		0	32,215
Allocation to participating securities	45		0		75	0
Numerator for basic income per common share/units - basic and diluted	$ 26,477		$ (18,053)		$ 45,756	$ (11,114)
Denominator
Weighted-average common units outstanding - basic (in shares)	352,363,754		350,812,725		352,183,171	346,198,786
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based compensation plan (in shares)	524,558		0		519,375	0
Weighted-average common units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	352,888,312		350,812,725		352,702,546	346,198,786
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders/unitholders per share/unit
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08		$ (0.05)		$ 0.13	$ (0.03)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08		$ (0.05)		$ 0.13	$ (0.03)