Earnings (Loss) per Share/Unit - (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 19,306	[1]	$ 18,186	[1]	$ 17,943	[1]	$ 12,040	[1]	$ 26,804	[1]	$ 6,977	[1]	$ 2,477	[1]	$ (1,662)	[1]	$ 67,475	$ 34,596	$ (18,756)
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax (Note 12)	26,153	[1]	126,329	[1]	66,662	[1]	69,492	[1]									288,636	0	0
(Income) loss from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(46,862)	10,555	(11,034)
Income attributable to preferred stockholders																	(7,947)	(2,804)	(49,888)
Income attributable to participating securities																	(1,082)	(813)	(422)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Aimco common stockholders																	300,220	41,534	(80,100)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 12)									121,799	[1]	72,433	[1]	4,502	[1]	4,495	[1]	0	203,229	214,117
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	0	(41,090)	(51,871)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Aimco																	0	162,139	162,246
Net income	45,459	[1]	144,515	[1]	84,605	[1]	81,532	[1]	148,603	[1]	79,410	[1]	6,979	[1]	2,833	[1]	356,111	237,825	195,361
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	46,862	30,535	62,905
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(24,595)	(12,473)	(51,218)
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders																	(7,947)	(2,804)	(49,888)
Net income attributable to participating securities																	(1,082)	(813)	(422)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company's common equityholders	36,269	[1]	124,706	[1]	75,010	[1]	64,235	[1]	122,037	[1]	66,268	[1]	10,107	[1]	5,050	[1]	300,220	203,673	82,146
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	145,753	[1]	145,672	[1]	145,657	[1]	145,473	[1]	145,341	[1]	145,334	[1]	145,321	[1]	145,169	[1]	145,639	145,291	134,479
Dilutive potential common shares/units																	(363)	(241)	0
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	146,238	[1]	146,104	[1]	145,985	[1]	145,681	[1]	145,499	[1]	145,563	[1]	145,674	[1]	145,169	[1]	146,002	145,532	134,479
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)s									$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.01	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]	$ 2.06	$ 0.29	$ (0.60)
Income from discontinued operations																	$ 0.00	$ 1.11	$ 1.21
Net income									$ 0.84	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.03	[1]	$ 2.06	$ 1.40	$ 0.61
Dividends declared per common share/unit																	$ 1.04	$ 0.96	$ 0.76
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	19,306	[1]	18,186	[1]	17,943	[1]	12,040	[1]	26,804	[1]	6,977	[1]	2,477	[1]	(1,662)	[1]	67,475	34,596	(18,756)
Gain on dispositions of real estate, net of tax (Note 12)	26,153	[1]	126,329	[1]	66,662	[1]	69,492	[1]									288,636	0	0
(Income) loss from continuing operations and gain on dispositions attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(24,595)	19,369	(9,585)
Income attributable to preferred stockholders																	(14,444)	(9,227)	(56,384)
Income attributable to participating securities																	(1,082)	(813)	(422)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Aimco common stockholders																	315,990	43,925	(85,147)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 12)									121,799	[1]	72,433	[1]	4,502	[1]	4,495	[1]	0	203,229	214,117
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests																	0	(31,842)	(41,633)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Aimco																	0	171,387	172,484
Net income	45,459	[1]	144,515	[1]	84,605	[1]	81,532	[1]	148,603	[1]	79,410	[1]	6,979	[1]	2,833	[1]	356,111	237,825	195,361
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(24,595)	(12,473)	(51,218)
Net income attributable to the company's preferred equityholders																	(14,444)	(9,227)	(56,384)
Net income attributable to participating securities																	(1,082)	(813)	(422)
Net income (loss) attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 38,144	[1]	$ 131,255	[1]	$ 78,745	[1]	$ 67,846	[1]	$ 129,008	[1]	$ 70,064	[1]	$ 10,682	[1]	$ 5,347	[1]	$ 315,990	$ 215,312	$ 87,337
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - basic	153,408	[1]	153,337	[1]	153,377	[1]	153,329	[1]	153,276	[1]	153,287	[1]	153,294	[1]	153,169	[1]	153,363	153,256	142,614
Dilutive potential common shares/units																	(363)	(241)	0
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding - diluted	153,893	[1]	153,769	[1]	153,705	[1]	153,537	[1]	153,434	[1]	153,516	[1]	153,647	[1]	153,169		153,726	153,497	142,614
Earnings (loss) per common share/unit - basic and diluted
(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)s									$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.01	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]	$ 2.06	$ 0.29	$ (0.60)
Income from discontinued operations																	$ 0.00	$ 1.11	$ 1.21
Net income									$ 0.84	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.03	[1]	$ 2.06	$ 1.40	$ 0.61
Dividends declared per common share/unit																	$ 1.04	$ 0.96	$ 0.76

[1] Certain reclassifications have been made to quarterly amounts to conform to the full year presentation.