Supplemental Guarantor Information (Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Home sales revenue	$ 206,163	$ 311,276	$ 369,546	$ 452,219
Land sales and other revenue	9,522	15,054	15,886	21,189
Total revenue	215,685	326,330	385,432	473,408
Home cost of sales	179,097	255,062	320,078	364,452
Asset impairments	9,119		9,398
Marketing and commission expenses	17,353	23,086	32,953	35,275
General and administrative and other expenses	40,453	50,091	75,676	90,985
Total operating costs and expenses	246,022	328,239	438,105	490,712
(Loss) income from operations	(30,337)	(1,909)	(52,673)	(17,304)
Other income (expense)	534	(1,790)	(834)	(7,637)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(29,803)	(3,699)	(53,507)	(24,941)
Benefit from income taxes, net	1,823	15	5,648	384
Net (loss) income	(27,980)	(3,684)	(47,859)	(24,557)
M D C Holdings [Member]
Equity in (loss) income of subsidiaries	(13,221)	15,307	(19,273)	17,661
Total revenue	(13,221)	15,307	(19,273)	17,661
General and administrative and other expenses	16,251	18,607	31,019	36,789
Total operating costs and expenses	16,251	18,607	31,019	36,789
(Loss) income from operations	(29,472)	(3,300)	(50,292)	(19,128)
Other income (expense)	(337)	(2,422)	(2,528)	(8,630)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(29,809)	(5,722)	(52,820)	(27,758)
Benefit from income taxes, net	1,829	2,038	4,961	3,201
Net (loss) income	(27,980)	(3,684)	(47,859)	(24,557)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Home sales revenue	193,554	316,809	359,451	460,655
Land sales and other revenue	2,730	5,910	3,391	6,424
Total revenue	196,284	322,719	362,842	467,079
Home cost of sales	168,000	260,614	311,495	372,925
Asset impairments	9,119		9,398
Marketing and commission expenses	16,487	23,086	32,087	35,275
General and administrative and other expenses	18,672	25,828	34,429	44,451
Total operating costs and expenses	212,278	309,528	387,409	452,651
(Loss) income from operations	(15,994)	13,191	(24,567)	14,428
Other income (expense)	41	28	83	76
(Loss) income before income taxes	(15,953)	13,219	(24,484)	14,504
Benefit from income taxes, net	1,208	(245)	2,584	(223)
Net (loss) income	(14,745)	12,974	(21,900)	14,281
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Home sales revenue	13,783		13,783
Land sales and other revenue	6,792	9,144	12,495	14,765
Total revenue	20,575	9,144	26,278	14,765
Home cost of sales	12,271	(19)	12,271	(37)
Marketing and commission expenses	866		866
General and administrative and other expenses	5,530	5,656	10,228	9,745
Total operating costs and expenses	18,667	5,637	23,365	9,708
(Loss) income from operations	1,908	3,507	2,913	5,057
Other income (expense)	830	604	1,611	917
(Loss) income before income taxes	2,738	4,111	4,524	5,974
Benefit from income taxes, net	(1,214)	(1,778)	(1,897)	(2,594)
Net (loss) income	1,524	2,333	2,627	3,380
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Home sales revenue	(1,174)	(5,533)	(3,688)	(8,436)
Equity in (loss) income of subsidiaries	13,221	(15,307)	19,273	(17,661)
Total revenue	12,047	(20,840)	15,585	(26,097)
Home cost of sales	(1,174)	(5,533)	(3,688)	(8,436)
Total operating costs and expenses	(1,174)	(5,533)	(3,688)	(8,436)
(Loss) income from operations	13,221	(15,307)	19,273	(17,661)
(Loss) income before income taxes	13,221	(15,307)	19,273	(17,661)
Net (loss) income	$ 13,221	$ (15,307)	$ 19,273	$ (17,661)