avb_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyProjectedCapitalCostToDevelopRealEstate

No definition available.

Name:	avb_Avb_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyProjectedCapitalCostToDevelopRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium, Write-off

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	avb_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremiumWriteoff
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Estimated number of apartment homes in communities awaiting development.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number Of Land Parcels Acquired

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Prepayment penalty on early extinguishment of debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	avb_PrepaymentPenalty
Namespace Prefix:	avb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow from the acquisition of real estate intended to generate income for the owner; excludes land acquired for use by the owner.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireLand
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow to repay long-term debt that is wholly or partially secured by collateral. Excludes repayments of tax exempt secured debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSecuredDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=avb_NotesPayableMaturities2053Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Details) - Investment, Name [Domain] $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) land_parcel home	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) community home	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) community home	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Subsequent events
Number of Real Estate Properties \| community		257		257
Estimated number of apartment homes in communities to be developed \| home		10,080		10,080
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		$ 7,749	$ (412)	$ 7,749	$ (412)
Subsequent event
Subsequent events
Number Of Land Parcels Acquired \| land_parcel	1
Payments to Acquire Land	$ 99,000
Estimated number of apartment homes in communities to be developed \| home	695
avb_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyProjectedCapitalCostToDevelopRealEstate	$ 374,727
Secured notes \| Notes payable maturing in 2015 \| Subsequent event
Subsequent events
Repayments of secured debt	$ 140,346
Fixed rate (as a percent)	5.56%
Prepayment Penalty	$ 11,228
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	18,987
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium, Write-off	$ 30,215