Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Apr. 28, 2023
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-8951
Entity Registrant Name	M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-0622967
Entity Address, Address Line One	4350 South Monaco Street, Suite 500
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	773-1100
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		73,117,639
Entity Central Index Key	0000773141
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $.01 par value
Trading Symbol	MDC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Senior Notes 6.000 % Due January 2043
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6% Senior Notes due January 2043
Trading Symbol	MDC 43
Security Exchange Name	NYSE