CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	Total AvalonBay stockholders' equity	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated earnings less dividends	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			114,403,472
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 6,840,793,000	$ 6,837,215,000	$ 1,144,000	$ 7,086,407,000	$ (142,329,000)	$ (108,007,000)	$ 3,578,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	353,141,000	353,141,000			353,141,000
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges	0
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	59,376,000	59,376,000				59,376,000
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(1,246,000)	(1,246,000)			(1,246,000)
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	1,532,000	1,515,000		1,515,000			17,000
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(553,829,000)	(553,829,000)			(553,829,000)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	1,872,951,000	1,872,951,000	$ 150,000	1,873,792,000	(991,000)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)			15,013,223
Amortization of deferred compensation	27,009,000	27,009,000		27,009,000
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			129,416,695
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	8,599,727,000	8,596,132,000	$ 1,294,000	8,988,723,000	(345,254,000)	(48,631,000)	3,595,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	683,567,000	683,567,000			683,567,000
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges	(121,000)	(121,000)				(121,000)
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	6,237,000	6,237,000				6,237,000
Minority Interest Increase (Decrease) from Put Option Redemption Value Adjustment	3,709,000
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	3,709,000	3,709,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	14,221,000						14,221,000
Noncontrolling interests derecognition	(17,816,000)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(608,709,000)	(608,709,000)			(608,709,000)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	338,814,000	338,814,000	$ 26,000	339,186,000	(398,000)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)			2,633,687
Amortization of deferred compensation	26,776,000	26,776,000		26,776,000
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			132,050,382
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	9,046,405,000	9,046,405,000	$ 1,320,000	9,354,685,000	(267,085,000)	(42,515,000)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	742,038,000	742,038,000			742,038,000
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges	5,354,000	5,354,000				5,354,000
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	5,774,000	5,774,000				5,774,000
Minority Interest Increase (Decrease) from Put Option Redemption Value Adjustment	2,053,000
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	965,000	965,000		(1,088,000)
Dividends declared to common stockholders	(673,670,000)	(673,670,000)			(673,670,000)		0
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings	687,402,000	687,402,000	$ 50,000	688,677,000	(1,325,000)
Issuance of common stock, net of withholdings (in shares)			4,951,649
Amortization of deferred compensation	26,258,000	26,258,000		26,258,000
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			137,002,031
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 9,840,526,000	$ 9,840,526,000	$ 1,370,000	$ 10,068,532,000	$ (197,989,000)	$ (31,387,000)	$ 0