Supplemental Guarantor Information (Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 755,835	$ 572,225	$ 692,132	$ 1,234,252
Marketable securities	646,895	968,729
Restricted cash	604	420
Receivables	16,458	20,010
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	39,200	65,114
Housing completed or under construction	336,514	372,422
Land and land underdevelopment	524,234	415,237
Other assets, net	100,564	133,612
Total Assets	2,420,304	2,547,769
Accounts payable and related party liabilities	29,225	35,108
Accrued liabilities		260,729
Mortgage repurchase facility	8,988	25,434
Senior notes, net	1,243,273	1,242,815
Total Liabilities	1,487,110	1,564,086
Total Stockholders' Equity	933,194	983,683
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,420,304	2,547,769
M D C Holdings [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	718,010	535,035	655,241	1,210,123
Marketable securities	615,892	938,471
Receivables	8,572	14,402
Investment in subsidiaries	122,483	110,065
Other assets, net	48,334	88,267
Total Assets	1,513,291	1,686,240
Accounts payable and related party liabilities	2,768	2,747
Accrued liabilities	85,099	130,960
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(751,043)	(673,965)
Senior notes, net	1,243,273	1,242,815
Total Liabilities	580,097	702,557
Total Stockholders' Equity	933,194	983,683
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,513,291	1,686,240
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,022	4,287	5,485	3,258
Restricted cash	604	420
Receivables	5,666	8,071
Housing completed or under construction	319,951	372,422
Land and land underdevelopment	514,634	415,237
Other assets, net	42,106	42,288
Total Assets	885,983	842,725
Accounts payable and related party liabilities	26,106	34,553
Accrued liabilities	56,992	65,622
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	744,688	671,190
Total Liabilities	827,786	771,365
Total Stockholders' Equity	58,197	71,360
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	885,983	842,725
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	34,803	32,903	31,406	20,871
Marketable securities	31,003	30,258
Receivables	4,877	194
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	39,200	65,114
Housing completed or under construction	16,563
Land and land underdevelopment	9,600
Other assets, net	11,223	3,057
Total Assets	147,269	131,526
Accounts payable and related party liabilities	3,008	465
Accrued liabilities	64,632	64,147
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	6,355	2,775
Mortgage repurchase facility	8,988	25,434
Total Liabilities	82,983	92,821
Total Stockholders' Equity	64,286	38,705
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	147,269	131,526
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Receivables	(2,657)	(2,657)
Investment in subsidiaries	(122,483)	(110,065)
Other assets, net	(1,099)
Total Assets	(126,239)	(112,722)
Accounts payable and related party liabilities	(2,657)	(2,657)
Accrued liabilities	(1,099)
Total Liabilities	(3,756)	(2,657)
Total Stockholders' Equity	(122,483)	(110,065)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$ (126,239)	$ (112,722)