Unaudited Summarized Consolidated Quarterly Information - (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
Summarized unaudited consolidated quarterly information
Total revenues	$ 242,178	[1]	$ 246,843	[1]	$ 246,418	[1]	$ 248,924	[1]	$ 250,862	[1]	$ 243,943	[1]	$ 241,744	[1]	$ 237,504	[1]	$ 984,363	$ 974,053	$ 958,511
Total operating expenses	(178,370)	[1]	(179,376)	[1]	(180,621)	[1]	(183,646)	[1]	(177,707)	[1]	(179,430)	[1]	(183,033)	[1]	(184,864)	[1]	(722,013)	(725,034)	(779,495)
Operating income	63,808	[1]	67,467	[1]	65,797	[1]	65,278	[1]	73,155	[1]	64,513	[1]	58,711	[1]	52,640	[1]	262,350	249,019	179,016
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	26,153	[1]	126,329	[1]	66,662	[1]	69,492	[1]									288,636	0	0
Income from discontinued operations, net									121,799	[1]	72,433	[1]	4,502	[1]	4,495	[1]	0	203,229	214,117
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 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
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
(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)
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)									$ 0.84	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.03	[1]	$ 2.06	$ 1.40	$ 0.61
Loss per common share - basic and diluted:
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
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
AIMCO PROPERTIES, L.P.
Summarized unaudited consolidated quarterly information
Total revenues	242,178	[1]	246,843	[1]	246,418	[1]	248,924	[1]	250,862	[1]	243,943	[1]	241,744	[1]	237,504	[1]	984,363	974,053	958,511
Total operating expenses	(178,370)	[1]	(179,376)	[1]	(180,621)	[1]	(183,646)	[1]	(177,707)	[1]	(179,430)	[1]	(183,033)	[1]	(184,864)	[1]	(722,013)	(725,034)	(779,495)
Operating income	63,808	[1]	67,467	[1]	65,797	[1]	65,278	[1]	73,155	[1]	64,513	[1]	58,711	[1]	52,640	[1]	262,350	249,019	179,016
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	26,153	[1]	126,329	[1]	66,662	[1]	69,492	[1]									288,636	0	0
Income from discontinued operations, net									121,799	[1]	72,433	[1]	4,502	[1]	4,495	[1]	0	203,229	214,117
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 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
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
Income from continuing operations attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]
(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)
Net income attributable to the company's common equityholders (In dollars per share/unit)									$ 0.84	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.03	[1]	$ 2.06	$ 1.40	$ 0.61
Loss per common share - basic and diluted:
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
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

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