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, 2020		139,526,671
Beginning 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]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	1,004,299			1,004,299		1,004,299
Gain on cash flow hedges, net	993				993	993
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	13,151				13,151	13,151
Noncontrolling interest activity	(1,047)			(1,022)		(1,022)	(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
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 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]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	1,136,775			1,136,775		1,136,775
Gain on cash flow hedges, net	23,647				23,647	23,647
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	3,883				3,883	3,883
Noncontrolling interest activity	(594)			(105)		(105)	(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
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 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]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	928,825			928,825		928,825
Gain on cash flow hedges, net	13,332				13,332	13,332
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,360				1,360	1,360
Noncontrolling interest activity	(1,217)			(1,217)		(1,217)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(935,305)			(935,305)		(935,305)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)		2,120,392
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	$ 486,684	$ 20	485,029	1,635		486,684
Repurchase of common stock, including repurchase costs (in shares)	(11,800)	(11,800)
Repurchase of common stock, including repurchase costs	$ (1,911)		(908)	(1,003)		(1,911)
Stock-based compensation expense	37,997		37,997			37,997
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023		142,025,456
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 11,783,318	$ 1,420	$ 11,287,549	$ 478,156	$ 16,116	$ 11,783,241	$ 77