Percentage of fee paid to AH LLC, in relation to acquisition and renovation services rendered to the Company.

No definition available.

Name:	amh_AcquisitionAndRenovationFeePercent
Namespace Prefix:	amh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Monthly payment for maintenance and use of certain intellectual property transferred to the Company in the Management Internalization transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amh_IntellectualPropertyFee
Namespace Prefix:	amh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net Monetary Assets of Subsidiary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amh_NetMonetaryAssetsOfSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	amh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units of the operating partnership owned by the noncontrolling interest, a related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amh_NoncontrollingInterestUnitsOwnedInOperatingPartnership
Namespace Prefix:	amh_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units issued during the period pursuant to acquisitions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amh_PartnersCapitalAccountUnitsIssuedDuringPeriodAcquisitions
Namespace Prefix:	amh_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of number of units issued during the period pursuant to acquisitions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amh_PartnersCapitalAccountUnitsIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions
Namespace Prefix:	amh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of promoted interests in any future outside investments vehicles of the related party which the reporting entity has the right to receive under the agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	amh_RightToReceivePercentageOfPromotedInterestsInFutureOutsideInvestmentVehicles
Namespace Prefix:	amh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- 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

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

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956515&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of facility held for productive use including, but not limited to, office, production, storage and distribution facilities, acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, acquired at the acquisition date. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 37
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744172&loc=d3e2207-128464

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the identifiable assets acquired in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=amh_AmericanHomes4RentAdvisorLlcAndAmericanHomes4RentManagementHoldingsLlcAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_DatabasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsByClassAxis=amh_SeriesDConvertibleUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=amh_OperatingPartnershipLegalEntityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsByClassAxis=amh_SeriesEConvertibleUnitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=amh_AHLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=amh_AgreementOnInvestmentOpportunitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions and Dispositions Acquisitions and Dispositions - Management Internalization (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 10, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Issuance of Class A units		$ 11,179
Estimated fair values of the net assets
Goodwill		$ 120,655	$ 120,655
Management Internalization
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired of membership interests	100.00%
Monthly maintenance fee	$ 100
Estimated fair values of the net assets
Buildings and improvements	4,214
Goodwill	120,655
Estimated fair value of assets and liabilities acquired	130,069
Net monetary assets of subsidiary	7,000
Cash and cash equivalents	9,000
Trademark \| Management Internalization
Estimated fair values of the net assets
Identified intangible assets	3,100
Database \| Management Internalization
Estimated fair values of the net assets
Identified intangible assets	$ 2,100
Series D Convertible Units \| Operating Partnership
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Issuance of units (in shares)	4,375,000
Series E Convertible Units \| Operating Partnership
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Units owned (in shares)		4,375,000
AH LLC \| Series D Convertible Units
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Units owned (in shares)		4,375,000	4,375,000
AH LLC \| Series D Convertible Units \| Operating Partnership
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Units owned (in shares)		4,375,000	4,375,000
AH LLC \| Series D Convertible Units \| Operating Partnership \| Management Internalization
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Issuance of Class A units	$ 65,200
AH LLC \| Series E Convertible Units
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Units owned (in shares)		4,375,000	4,375,000
AH LLC \| Series E Convertible Units \| Operating Partnership
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Units owned (in shares)	4,375,000	4,375,000
AH LLC \| Series E Convertible Units \| Operating Partnership \| Management Internalization
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Issuance of Class A units	$ 64,900
Minimum \| Management Internalization
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Right to receive percentage of promoted interests in future outside investment vehicles	20.00%
Maximum \| Management Internalization
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Right to receive percentage of promoted interests in future outside investment vehicles	100.00%
Agreement on Investment Opportunities \| AH LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition and renovation fee in percent	5.00%			5.00%