Earnings per Share / Unit - Computation of Earnings per Share (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Numerator:
Net income	$ 74,555	$ 70,014	$ 51,814	$ 48,921	$ 144,569	$ 100,735
Less:
Noncontrolling interest	8,343		3,218		16,655	8,143
Dividends on preferred shares	4,346	5,763	12,615	13,782	10,109	26,397
Redemption of perpetual preferred shares	5,276		15,879		5,276	15,879
Allocation to participating securities	198		101		395	194
Numerator for income per common share–basic and diluted	$ 56,392		$ 20,001		$ 112,134	$ 50,122
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares) | shares	348,484,158		319,752,730		347,123,576	318,380,175
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based compensation plan and forward sale equity contracts | shares	518,466		1,056,266		628,382	1,027,978
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares) | shares	349,002,624		320,808,996		347,751,958	319,408,153
Net income per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.16		$ 0.06		$ 0.32	$ 0.16
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.16		$ 0.06		$ 0.32	$ 0.16
Exchange rate					1
American Homes 4 Rent, L.P.
Numerator:
Net income	$ 74,555	$ 70,014	$ 51,814	$ 48,921	$ 144,569	$ 100,735
Less:
Dividends on preferred shares	4,346		12,615		10,109	26,397
Redemption of perpetual preferred shares	5,276		15,879		5,276	15,879
Allocation to participating securities	198		101		395	194
Numerator for income per common share–basic and diluted	$ 64,735		$ 23,219		$ 128,789	$ 58,265
Denominator:
Weighted-average common units outstanding - basic (in shares) | shares	399,861,138		371,129,710		398,500,556	369,900,249
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share-based compensation plan and forward sale equity contracts | shares	518,466		1,056,266		628,382	1,027,978
Weighted-average common units outstanding - diluted (in shares) | shares	400,379,604		372,185,976		399,128,938	370,928,227
Net income per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.16		$ 0.06		$ 0.32	$ 0.16
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.16		$ 0.06		$ 0.32	$ 0.16