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Real Estate Disposition Activities (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2013
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |
Gain on sale of communities | $ 37,869,000 | $ 84,491,000
Avalon Valley |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |
Apartment homes | 268 |
Net proceeds | 53,325,000 |
Gain on sale of communities | 37,869,000 |
Arna Valley View |  |
Summary of income from discontinued operations |  |
Apartment homes | 101 |
Amount received on sale of limited partnership for residual ownership interest | $ 2,195,000 |

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 Amount of difference between the carrying amount and the sales price of real estate properties sold as part of discontinued operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Cash inflow received as distributions, returns of capital, or sale proceeds from partnership interests held for investment purposes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromLimitedPartnershipInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration