Earnings per Share / Unit - Computation of Earnings per Share (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Numerator:
Net income	$ 37,527	$ 33,091
Less:
Noncontrolling interest	3,501	3,026
Dividends on preferred shares	13,782	13,782
Allocation to participating securities	54	31
Numerator for income per common share–basic and diluted	$ 20,190	$ 16,252
Denominator
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares) | shares	300,813,069	296,833,755
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based compensation plan (in shares) | shares	491,999	611,186
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares) | shares	301,305,068	297,444,941
Net income attributable to common shareholders per share:
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.07	$ 0.05
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.07	$ 0.05
Exchange rate	1
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Numerator:
Net income	$ 37,527	$ 33,091
Less:
Dividends on preferred shares	13,782	13,782
Allocation to participating securities	54	31
Numerator for income per common share–basic and diluted	$ 23,691	$ 19,278
Denominator
Weighted-average common units outstanding - basic (in shares) | shares	352,840,049	352,000,581
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based compensation plan (in shares) | shares	491,999	611,186
Weighted-average common units outstanding - diluted (in shares) | shares	353,332,048	352,611,767
Net income attributable to common shareholders per share:
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.07	$ 0.05
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.07	$ 0.05