Supplemental Guarantor Information (Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 186,268	$ 163,587
Inventory impairments	(300)
Selling, general and administrative	(34,124)	(47,654)
Interest expense	(808)
Interest income	5,913
Other income (expense)	158	2,039
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,125	(23,704)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	140	3,825
Net income (loss)	2,265	(19,879)
M D C Holdings [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative	(12,308)	(17,082)
Interest expense	(778)
Interest income	5,910
Income (loss) before income taxes	547	(23,011)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	1,718	3,132
Net income (loss)	2,265	(19,879)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative	(21,993)	(30,572)
Interest expense	(30)
Interest income	3
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,555	(8,531)
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	168	1,376
Net income (loss)	2,723	(7,155)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative	177
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,728	1,786
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(1,746)	(683)
Net income (loss)	4,982	1,103
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	(7,705)	6,052
Net income (loss)	(7,705)	6,052
Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	186,268	163,587
Cost of sales	(160,144)	(141,277)
Cost of sales		(140,998)
Inventory impairments		(279)
Gross margin	26,124	22,310
Interest expense	(808)	(8,667)
Interest income	5,913	6,488
Other income (expense)	158	2,039
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,737)	(25,484)
Homebuilding [Member] | M D C Holdings [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	7,705	(6,052)
Interest expense		(8,667)
Interest income		6,476
Other income (expense)	18	2,314
Income (loss) before income taxes	547	(23,011)
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	175,532	166,101
Cost of sales	(151,074)
Cost of sales		(143,512)
Inventory impairments		(279)
Gross margin	24,458	22,310
Interest income		12
Other income (expense)	117	(281)
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,555	(8,531)
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	12,006
Cost of sales	(10,340)
Gross margin	1,666
Other income (expense)	23	6
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,866	6
Homebuilding [Member] | Eliminating Entries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	(1,270)	(2,514)
Cost of sales	1,270
Cost of sales		2,514
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	(7,705)	6,052
Income (loss) before income taxes	(7,705)	6,052
Financial Services [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	4,862	1,780
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Income (loss) before income taxes	$ 4,862	$ 1,780