Document and Entity Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Document and Entity Information:
Entity Registrant Name	REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES LTD VI
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000715578
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	16,568
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY