Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 156,260	$ 112,438	$ 76,492
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	329,293	318,685	297,290
Noncash amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and cash flow hedging instrument	7,457	10,493	11,712
Noncash share-based compensation	4,808	3,433	4,212
Provision for bad debt	0	8,732	7,328
Hurricane-related charges, net	0	0	3,718
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	659	1,447	6,555
Remeasurement of participating preferred shares	0	(1,212)	(2,841)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(509)	(546)	(1,642)
Net gain on sale of single-family properties and other	(43,873)	(17,946)	(6,826)
Loss on impairment of single-family properties	3,663	5,858	4,680
Net gain on resolutions of mortgage loans	0	0	(17)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Rent and other receivables	(2,784)	(12,172)	(11,020)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(10,170)	(17,447)	(11,295)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,095)	(12,603)	(7,390)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	17,408	11,772	9,814
Amounts payable to affiliates	(230)	(50)	5,191
Net cash provided by operating activities	457,887	410,882	385,961
Investing activities
Cash paid for single-family properties	(120,487)	(489,625)	(784,666)
Change in escrow deposits for purchase of single-family properties	(7,171)	1,818	(8,937)
Net proceeds received from sales of single-family properties and other	221,930	106,157	87,063
Proceeds received from hurricane-related insurance claims	2,171	4,522	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(13,114)	(8,400)	0
Distributions from joint ventures	22,561	36,917	9,292
Collections from mortgage financing receivables	0	0	268
Renovations to single-family properties	(21,883)	(52,379)	(47,911)
Recurring and other capital expenditures for single-family properties	(71,481)	(54,465)	(37,540)
Cash paid for development activity	(383,271)	(215,797)	0
Other purchases of productive assets	(6,121)	(3,156)	(55,048)
Net cash used for investing activities	(376,866)	(674,408)	(837,479)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of Class A common shares	0	0	694,765
Repurchase of Class A common shares	0	(34,969)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	11,524	10,707	932
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation	(834)	(546)	(384)
Redemptions of Class A common units	0	0	(169)
Payments on asset-backed securitizations	(21,517)	(20,847)	(477,879)
Payments on secured note payable	0	(49,427)	(969)
Proceeds from unsecured senior notes, net of discount	397,944	497,210	0
Settlement of cash flow hedging instrument	0	9,628	0
Payments on exchangeable senior notes	0	(135,093)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(10,701)	(11,071)	(8,333)
Distributions to common shareholders	(59,832)	(58,370)	(38,901)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(55,128)	(67,183)	(46,122)
Deferred financing costs paid	(3,572)	(5,100)	(3,974)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(92,116)	255,917	384,100
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(11,095)	(7,609)	(67,418)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	175,214	182,823	250,241
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period (see Note 2)	164,119	175,214	182,823
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	(112,980)	(105,056)	(100,908)
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities
Accrued property renovations and development expenditures	18,276	1,921	7,964
Transfer of term loan borrowings to revolving credit facility	0	0	50,000
Transfer of deferred financing costs from term loan to revolving credit facility	0	0	1,524
Transfers of completed homebuilding deliveries to properties	167,652	94,212	4,536
Property and land contributions to an unconsolidated joint venture	(20,448)	(40,942)	0
Note receivable related to a bulk sale of properties, net of discount	29,474	0	5,710
Redemption of participating preferred shares	0	(28,258)	(37,499)
Accrued distributions to affiliates	4,629	71	4,720
Accrued distributions to non-affiliates	13,024	14,173	26,982
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Operating activities
Net income (loss)	156,260	112,438	76,492
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	329,293	318,685	297,290
Noncash amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and cash flow hedging instrument	7,457	10,493	11,712
Noncash share-based compensation	4,808	3,433	4,212
Provision for bad debt	0	8,732	7,328
Hurricane-related charges, net	0	0	3,718
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	659	1,447	6,555
Remeasurement of participating preferred shares	0	(1,212)	(2,841)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(509)	(546)	(1,642)
Net gain on sale of single-family properties and other	(43,873)	(17,946)	(6,826)
Loss on impairment of single-family properties	3,663	5,858	4,680
Net gain on resolutions of mortgage loans	0	0	(17)
Other changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Rent and other receivables	(2,784)	(12,172)	(11,020)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(10,170)	(17,447)	(11,295)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,095)	(12,603)	(7,390)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	17,408	11,772	9,814
Amounts payable to affiliates	(230)	(50)	5,191
Net cash provided by operating activities	457,887	410,882	385,961
Investing activities
Cash paid for single-family properties	(120,487)	(489,625)	(784,666)
Change in escrow deposits for purchase of single-family properties	(7,171)	1,818	(8,937)
Net proceeds received from sales of single-family properties and other	221,930	106,157	87,063
Proceeds received from hurricane-related insurance claims	2,171	4,522	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(13,114)	(8,400)	0
Distributions from joint ventures	22,561	36,917	9,292
Collections from mortgage financing receivables	0	0	268
Renovations to single-family properties	(21,883)	(52,379)	(47,911)
Recurring and other capital expenditures for single-family properties	(71,481)	(54,465)	(37,540)
Cash paid for development activity	(383,271)	(215,797)	0
Other purchases of productive assets	(6,121)	(3,156)	(55,048)
Net cash used for investing activities	(376,866)	(674,408)	(837,479)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of Class A common shares	0	0	694,765
Proceeds from issuance of perpetual preferred shares	0	115,000	270,000
Repurchase of Class A common shares	0	(34,969)	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	11,524	10,707	932
Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation	(834)	(546)	(384)
Redemptions of Class A common units	0	0	(169)
Payments on asset-backed securitizations	(21,517)	(20,847)	(477,879)
Payments on secured note payable	0	(49,427)	(969)
Proceeds from unsecured senior notes, net of discount	397,944	497,210	0
Settlement of cash flow hedging instrument	0	9,628	0
Payments on exchangeable senior notes	0	(135,093)	0
Distributions to common shareholders	(70,533)	(69,441)	(47,234)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(55,128)	(67,183)	(46,122)
Deferred financing costs paid	(3,572)	(5,100)	(3,974)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(92,116)	255,917	384,100
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(11,095)	(7,609)	(67,418)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	175,214	182,823	250,241
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period (see Note 2)	164,119	175,214	182,823
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	(112,980)	(105,056)	(100,908)
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities
Accrued property renovations and development expenditures	18,276	1,921	7,964
Transfer of term loan borrowings to revolving credit facility	0	0	50,000
Transfer of deferred financing costs from term loan to revolving credit facility	0	0	1,524
Transfers of completed homebuilding deliveries to properties	167,652	94,212	4,536
Property and land contributions to an unconsolidated joint venture	(20,448)	(40,942)	0
Note receivable related to a bulk sale of properties, net of discount	29,474	0	5,710
Redemption of participating preferred shares	0	(28,258)	(37,499)
Accrued distributions to affiliates	4,629	71	4,720
Accrued distributions to non-affiliates	13,024	14,173	26,982
Term loan facility, net
Financing activities
Proceeds from credit facilities	0	0	25,000
Payments on credit facility	(100,000)	(100,000)	(100,000)
Term loan facility, net | American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Financing activities
Proceeds from credit facilities	0	0	25,000
Payments on credit facility	(100,000)	(100,000)	(100,000)
Revolving Credit Facility
Financing activities
Proceeds from credit facilities	0	405,000	202,000
Payments on credit facility	(250,000)	(295,000)	(112,000)
Revolving Credit Facility | American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Financing activities
Proceeds from credit facilities	0	405,000	202,000
Payments on credit facility	(250,000)	(295,000)	(112,000)
Class A common shares/units
Financing activities
Stock issuance costs	0	0	(10,637)
Class A common shares/units | American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Financing activities
Stock issuance costs	0	0	(10,637)
Preferred shares
Financing activities
Stock issuance costs	0	(4,022)	(9,229)
Proceeds from issuance of perpetual preferred shares	0	115,000	270,000
Preferred shares | American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Financing activities
Stock issuance costs	$ 0	$ (4,022)	$ (9,229)