Represents the number of apartment homes sold during the period.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Number of Operating Apartment Communities Sold

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow to repay long-term debt that is not secured by collateral. Excludes repayments of tax exempt unsecured debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=avb_UnsecuredNotes2.90PercentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=avb_UnsecuredNotes3.90PercentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=avb_AvalonBrandemoorIandIIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Details)	1 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Details)	Nov. 04, 2016 USD ($) community home	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) community	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2016
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						2.95%
Repayments of Unsecured Debt				$ 250,000,000	$ 0
Number of Apartment Communities Sold \| community				5
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Apartment Communities Sold \| community	2
Unsecured Notes 2.90 Percent [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 300,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt		$ 297,117,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		2.90%
Unsecured Notes 3.90 Percent [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 350,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt		$ 345,520,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		3.90%
Unsecured notes
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Repayments of Unsecured Debt			$ 250,000,000
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Percentage Rate			5.75%	5.75%
Unsecured notes \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	$ 250,000,000
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Percentage Rate	5.70%
Avalon Brandemoor I and II [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of Apartment Homes Sold \| home	506
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate	$ 132,000,000