Condensed Consolidated Statements of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes	$ (2,619)	$ (1,521)
Distributions to capital holders:
Net income	70,014	48,921
Total other comprehensive income	(141)	8,989
Class A common shares/units | Common capital
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes	$ 2	$ 2
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes (in shares)	280,172	246,425
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	$ 6,738,429	$ 6,472,430
Share-based compensation	7,405	8,110
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes	(2,619)	(1,521)
Distributions to capital holders:
Preferred units	(5,763)	(13,782)
Common units	(72,186)	(36,967)
Net income	70,014	48,921
Total other comprehensive income	(141)	8,989
Total capital, ending balance	7,110,779	6,486,180
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Class A common shares/units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemptions of Class A units		0
Issuance of Class A common units, net of offering costs	375,640
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Accumulated other comprehensive income
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	2,090	6,860
Distributions to capital holders:
Total other comprehensive income	(141)	8,989
Total capital, ending balance	1,949	15,849
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | General Partner | Common capital
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	$ 5,686,193	$ 4,928,819
Total capital, beginning balance (in shares)	337,997,791	316,656,460
Share-based compensation	$ 7,405	$ 8,110
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes	$ (2,619)	$ (1,521)
Common units issued under share-based compensation plans, net of units withheld for employee taxes (in shares)	280,172	246,425
Distributions to capital holders:
Common units	$ (62,938)	$ (31,795)
Net income	55,939	30,214
Total capital, ending balance	$ 6,059,620	$ 4,938,444
Total capital, ending balance (in shares)	348,277,963	317,252,885
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | General Partner | Common capital | Class A common shares/units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemptions of Class A units		$ 4,617
Redemption of Class A units (in shares)		350,000
Issuance of Class A common units, net of offering costs	$ 375,640
Issuance of Class A common units, net of offering costs (in shares)	10,000,000
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | General Partner | Preferred capital amount
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	$ 371,564	$ 854,435
Distributions to capital holders:
Preferred units	(5,763)	(13,782)
Net income	5,763	13,782
Total capital, ending balance	371,564	854,435
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Limited Partners | Common capital
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Total capital, beginning balance	$ 678,582	$ 682,316
Total capital, beginning balance (in shares)	51,376,980	51,726,980
Distributions to capital holders:
Common units	$ (9,248)	$ (5,172)
Net income	8,312	4,925
Total capital, ending balance	$ 677,646	$ 677,452
Total capital, ending balance (in shares)	51,376,980	51,376,980
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P. | Limited Partners | Common capital | Class A common shares/units
Increase (Decrease) in Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemptions of Class A units		$ (4,617)
Redemption of Class A units (in shares)		350,000