Number of commercial properties owned.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Finance Leases for Parking Garages Adjacent to Communities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	avb_NumberOfFinanceLeasesForParkingGaragesAdjacentToCommunities
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Office Leases

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of operating apartment communities owned (or in which a direct or indirect ownership interest is held).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	avb_NumberOfOperatingApartmentCommunitiesOwned
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from finance lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121609121&loc=SL77918701-209980

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121603541&loc=SL77918627-209977

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of right-of-use asset from finance lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121603541&loc=SL77918627-209977

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of operating lease expense. Excludes sublease income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121603541&loc=SL77918638-209977

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeaseExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121603541&loc=SL77918627-209977

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's right to use underlying asset under operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=avb_AssetsHeldunderOperatingLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=avb_AssetsHeldunderFinanceLeasesMember
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Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) Lease community property	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number Of Office Leases \| Lease	14
Operating lease assets	$ 131,269		$ 133,581
Operating lease obligation	159,813		161,313
Operating Lease, Expense	3,827	$ 3,917
Finance lease asset	21,632		21,685
Finance lease obligation	$ 20,154		$ 20,166
Properties on Land Subject to Land Leases
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number Of operating apartment communities owned \| community	10
Number of commercial properties owned \| property	2
Assets Held under Operating Leases [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number Of operating apartment communities owned \| community	9
Assets Held under Finance Leases [Member]
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Number Of operating apartment communities owned \| community	1
Number Of Finance Leases For Parking Garages Adjacent To Communities \| Lease	2