Name:	avb_AdditionalNumberOfCommunitiesOwnedThatCanBeDeveloped
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the compensation multiplier for executives under case one relating to employment agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_CompensationMultiplierInCaseOne
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the compensation multiple if the termination is in connection with a sale of the entity for executives under case one.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_CompensationMultiplierInCaseOneInConnectionWithSaleOfCompany
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the compensation multiplier for executives under case two relating to employment agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_CompensationMultiplierInCaseTwo
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the compensation multiple if the termination is in connection with a sale of the entity for executives under case two.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_CompensationMultiplierInCaseTwoInConnectionWithSaleOfCompany
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	avb_EmploymentAgreementsAndArrangementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	avb_LeaseObligationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of commercial properties owned.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_NumberOfCommercialPropertiesOwned
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of executives under case one relating to employment agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_NumberOfExecutivesInCaseOne
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of executives that the entity has employment agreements with.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_NumberOfExecutivesInEmploymentAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of leased properties accounted for as operating leases.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_NumberOfLeasedPropertiesAccountedAsOperatingLeases
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of leased properties that have purchase options.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_NumberOfLeasedPropertiesUnderPurchaseOptions
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of operating apartment communities owned (or in which a direct or indirect ownership interest is held).

No definition available.

Name:	avb_NumberOfOperatingApartmentCommunitiesOwned
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the number of operating apartment communities under construction.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_NumberOfOperatingApartmentCommunitiesUnderConstruction
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the sum of the age of an employee at Retirement plus years of employment with the entity, which is considered as a criterion for Retirement.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAgeOfEmployeeAtRetirementPlusYearsOfEmployment
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the compensation (base salary plus annual cash bonus) multiplier considered for executives terminated.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardCompensationMultiplier
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the time period that an employee will have to exercise any options held upon termination without cause or retirement.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExercisePeriodForOptionsHeldUponTerminationWithoutCauseOrRetirement
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the period of the non-compete agreement entered into by an employee.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRequisitePeriodOfNonCompeteAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the minimum period of written notice to be provided by an employee for communicating his intention to retire.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRequisitePeriodOfWrittenNoticeForRetirement
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the age of an employee that is considered for Retirement, which results in vesting of the equity-based payment award.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRequisiteRetirementAge
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the period following a sale within which if an employee, not covered by a severance agreement, terminates his employment, receives a lump sum payment.

No definition available.

Name:	avb_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardTerminationPeriodFollowingSaleEvent
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Cash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Estimated period over which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the equity-based payment award, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=avb_OfficerSeveranceProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_StockCompensationPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=avb_PropertiesOnLandSubjectToLandLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: