CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated earnings less dividends	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Total AvalonBay stockholders' equity	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		138,508,424
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 10,632,606	$ 1,385	$ 10,306,588	$ 350,777	$ (26,144)	$ 10,632,606	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	785,974			785,974		785,974
Loss on cash flow hedges, net	(11,930)				(11,930)	(11,930)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	6,571				6,571	6,571
Change in redemption value and acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(373)			(373)		(373)
Noncontrolling interests income allocation	649						649
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(851,287)			(851,287)		(851,287)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)		2,135,538
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	393,118	$ 21	395,275	(2,178)		393,118
Amortization of deferred compensation	34,870		34,870			34,870
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		140,643,962
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 10,990,198	$ 1,406	10,736,733	282,913	(31,503)	10,989,549	649
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.08
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 827,630			827,630		827,630
Loss on cash flow hedges, net	(17,731)				(17,731)	(17,731)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	8,984				8,984	8,984
Change in redemption value and acquisition of noncontrolling interest	210			210		210
Noncontrolling interests income allocation	(58)						(58)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(893,152)			(893,152)		(893,152)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)		108,499
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	(10,997)	$ 1	(9,571)	(1,427)		(10,997)
Repurchase of common stock, including repurchase costs (in shares)		(1,225,790)
Repurchase of common stock, including repurchase costs	(183,876)	$ (12)	(93,712)	(90,152)		(183,876)
Amortization of deferred compensation	30,966		30,966			30,966
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		139,526,671
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 10,752,174	$ 1,395	10,664,416	126,022	(40,250)	10,751,583	591
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.36
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 1,004,299			1,004,299		1,004,299
Loss on cash flow hedges, net	993				993	993
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	13,151				13,151	13,151
Change in redemption value and acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(1,022)			(1,022)		(1,022)
Noncontrolling interests income allocation	(25)						(25)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(889,405)			(889,405)		(889,405)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)		225,255
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	$ 18,977	$ 3	18,047	927		18,977
Repurchase of common stock, including repurchase costs (in shares)	0
Amortization of deferred compensation	$ 33,951		33,951			33,951
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021		139,751,926
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 10,933,093	$ 1,398	$ 10,716,414	$ 240,821	$ (26,106)	$ 10,932,527	$ 566
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.36