v2.4.0.6

Real Estate Disposition Activities (Details 2) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 home community | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |  |
Gross sales price | $ 280,550,000 | $ 292,965,000 | $ 198,600,000
Number of communities sold | 4 |  |
Number of communities held for sale | 1 |  |
South Clark (Land) |  |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |  |
Gross sales price | 12,300,000 |  |
Net proceeds | 10,849,000 |  |
Waterford, Avalon Arlintgon Heights, Avalon Wildreed and Avalon Highgrove |  |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |  |
Apartment homes | 1,578 | 1,038 | 1,007
Net proceeds | 274,018,000 | 287,358,000 | 194,009,000
Waterford |  |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |  |
Apartment homes | 544 |  |
Gross sales price | 86,500,000 |  |
Net proceeds | 84,488,000 |  |
Avalon Arlington Heights |  |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |  |
Apartment homes | 409 |  |
Gross sales price | 87,250,000 |  |
Net proceeds | 86,888,000 |  |
Avalon Wildreed |  |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |  |
Apartment homes | 234 |  |
Gross sales price | 35,000,000 |  |
Net proceeds | 33,994,000 |  |
Avalon HighGrove |  |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |  |
Apartment homes | 391 |  |
Gross sales price | 59,500,000 |  |
Net proceeds | $ 57,799,000 |  |

X
- Definition Represents the number of apartment communities sold during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | avb_NumberOfApartmentCommunitiesSold
Namespace Prefix: | avb_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of apartment homes sold during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | avb_NumberOfApartmentHomesSold
Namespace Prefix: | avb_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of communities (or where a direct or indirect interest is owned) that are held for sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | avb_NumberOfCommunitiesHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix: | avb_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the gross sales price of real estate assets sold. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | avb_SaleOfRealEstateGrossSalesPrice
Namespace Prefix: | avb_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Cash received for the sale of real estate that is not part of an investing activity during the current period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 24 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration