Condensed Consolidated Statements of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2020
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes	$ (163)	$ (760)
Distributions to equity holders:
Net income	37,527	33,091
Total other comprehensive loss	(241)	(241)
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	6,018,790	5,973,742
Share-based compensation	1,808	952
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes	(163)	(760)
Redemptions of Class A units		0
Distributions to equity holders:
Preferred units	(13,782)	(13,782)
Common units	(17,690)	(17,630)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets			$ (1,494)
Net income	37,527	33,091
Total other comprehensive loss	(241)	(241)
Total capital, ending balance	6,024,755	5,975,372
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Accumulated other comprehensive income
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	7,823	8,786
Distributions to equity holders:
Total other comprehensive loss	(241)	(241)
Total capital, ending balance	7,582	8,545
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | General Partner | Common Units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	$ 4,474,333	$ 4,390,137
Total capital, beginning balance (in shares)	300,742,674	296,649,621
Share-based compensation	$ 1,808	$ 952
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes	$ (163)	$ (760)
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes (in shares)	208,010	77,830
Redemptions of Class A units		$ (6,510)
Redemption of units (in shares)		500,000
Distributions to equity holders:
Common units	$ (15,088)	$ (14,889)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets			$ (1,494)
Net income	20,244	16,283
Total capital, ending balance	$ 4,479,640	$ 4,398,233
Total capital, ending balance (in shares)	300,950,684	297,227,451
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | General Partner | Preferred Shares/Units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	$ 854,435	$ 854,435
Distributions to equity holders:
Preferred units	(13,782)	(13,782)
Net income	13,782	13,782
Total capital, ending balance	854,435	854,435
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Limited Partners | Common Units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	$ 682,199	$ 720,384
Total capital, beginning balance (in shares)	52,026,980	55,316,826
Redemptions of Class A units		$ 6,510
Redemption of units (in shares)		(500,000)
Distributions to equity holders:
Common units	$ (2,602)	$ (2,741)
Net income	3,501	3,026
Total capital, ending balance	$ 683,098	$ 714,159
Total capital, ending balance (in shares)	52,026,980	54,816,826