CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated earnings less dividends	Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	Total AvalonBay stockholders' equity	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		140,643,962
Beginning 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]
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 distribution and 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 distribution and 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
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
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 1,136,775			1,136,775		1,136,775
Loss on cash flow hedges, net	23,647				23,647	23,647
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	3,883				3,883	3,883
Change in redemption value and acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(105)			(105)		(105)
Noncontrolling interests income distribution and income allocation	(489)						(489)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(890,809)			(890,809)		(890,809)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)		164,938
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	$ 3,118	$ 2	4,577	(1,461)		3,118
Repurchase of common stock, including repurchase costs (in shares)	0
Amortization of deferred compensation	$ 44,440		44,440			44,440
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022		139,916,864
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 11,253,553	$ 1,400	$ 10,765,431	$ 485,221	$ 1,424	$ 11,253,476	$ 77
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 6.36