Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Summary of changes in equity

The following summarizes the changes in equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

	Common stock		Additional paid-in capital		Accumulated earnings less dividends			Accumulated other comprehensive loss			Total AvalonBay stockholders’ equity			Noncontrolling interests			Total equity
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,294	$	8,988,723	$	(345,254	)	$	(48,631	)	$	8,596,132		$	3,595		$	8,599,727
Net income attributable to common stockholders	—		—		540,929			—			540,929			—			540,929
Cash flow hedge loss reclassified to earnings	—		—		—			4,557			4,557			—			4,557
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	—		—		4,088			—			4,088			—			4,088
Noncontrolling interests income allocation	—		—		—			—			—			14,221			14,221
Noncontrolling interests derecognition	—		—		—			—			—			(17,816		)	(17,816		)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	—		—		(455,531		)	—			(455,531		)	—			(455,531		)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	26		334,207		(394		)	—			333,839			—			333,839
Amortization of deferred compensation	—		21,268		—			—			21,268			—			21,268
Balance at September 30, 2014	$	1,320	$	9,344,198	$	(256,162	)	$	(44,074	)	$	9,045,282		$	—		$	9,045,282