Earnings per Share / Unit (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2019 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2019 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2019 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2018 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2018 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Numerator:
Net income (loss)									$ 156,260	$ 112,438	$ 76,492
Less:
Noncontrolling interest									15,221	4,165	(4,507)
Dividends on preferred shares/units									55,128	52,586	60,718
Redemption of participating preferred shares/units									0	32,215	42,416
Allocation to participating securities									166	85	0
Numerator for income (loss) per common share–basic and diluted									$ 85,745	$ 23,387	$ (22,135)
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares) | shares									299,415,397	293,640,500	264,254,718
Effect of dilutive securities: Share-based compensation plan (in shares) | shares									503,569	627,830	0
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares) | shares									299,918,966	294,268,330	264,254,718
Net income (loss) per common share/unit
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ 0.05	$ (0.05)	$ 0.02	$ 0.29	$ 0.08	$ (0.08)
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.05	0.06	0.05	(0.05)	0.02	$ 0.29	$ 0.08	$ (0.08)
Potentially dilutive securities (in shares) | shares									182,481	0	17,084,135
Operating Partnership | Class A Units
Net income (loss) per common share/unit
Stock exchange ratio									1
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Numerator:
Net income (loss)									$ 156,260	$ 112,438	$ 76,492
Less:
Noncontrolling interest									0	(259)	141
Dividends on preferred shares/units									55,128	52,586	60,718
Redemption of participating preferred shares/units									0	32,215	42,416
Allocation to participating securities									166	85	0
Numerator for income (loss) per common share–basic and diluted									$ 100,966	$ 27,811	$ (26,783)
Denominator:
Weighted-average common units outstanding - basic (in shares) | shares									352,460,401	348,990,561	319,753,206
Effect of dilutive securities: Share-based compensation plan (in shares) | shares									503,569	627,830	0
Weighted-average common units outstanding - diluted (in shares) | shares									352,963,970	349,618,391	319,753,206
Net income (loss) per common share/unit
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.05	0.06	0.05	(0.05)	0.02	$ 0.29	$ 0.08	$ (0.08)
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ 0.05	$ (0.05)	$ 0.02	$ 0.29	$ 0.08	$ (0.08)
Potentially dilutive securities (in shares) | shares									182,481	0	17,084,135