Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 28, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Apartment Investment and Management Company
Entity Central Index Key	0000922864
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Trading Symbol	AIV
Entity File Number	1-13232
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-1259577
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Address Line One	4582 South Ulster Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 1700
Entity Address, City or Town	Denver
Entity Address, State or Province	CO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80237
City Area Code	303
Local Phone Number	757-8101
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		148,865,947
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock (Aimco Investment and Management Company)
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
AIMCO Properties, LP [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	AIMCO Properties, L.P.
Entity Central Index Key	0000926660
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity File Number	0-24497
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-1275621
Entity Address, State or Province	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	4582 South Ulster Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 1700
Entity Address, City or Town	Denver
Entity Address, State or Province	CO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80237
City Area Code	303
Local Phone Number	757-8101