Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 326,124	$ 343,361	$ 755,835	$ 572,225
Prepaid expenses and other assets	44,272	50,423
Inventories:
Total Assets	1,855,914	1,858,725
Senior notes, net	744,470	744,108
Mortgage repurchase facility	32,700	48,700
Total liabilities	984,654	990,089
Total Stockholder's Equity	871,260	868,636
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,855,914	1,858,725
Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	298,274	316,418
Marketable securities	454,775	485,434
Restricted cash	2,260	667
Trade and other receivables	40,341	21,593
Prepaid expenses and other assets	44,272	50,423
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	437,287	300,714
Land and land under development	414,466	505,338
Other assets, net	78,743	86,700
Total Assets	1,726,146	1,716,864
Accounts payable	42,829	25,645
Accrued liabilities	111,730	119,188
Senior notes, net	744,470	744,108
Total liabilities	899,029	888,941
Financial Services [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	27,850	26,943
Accounts payable and other liabilities	52,965	52,446
Marketable securities	32,256	34,509
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	65,687	78,335
Prepaid expenses and other assets	3,975	2,074
Inventories:
Total Assets	129,768	141,861
Mortgage repurchase facility	32,660	48,702
Total liabilities	85,625	101,148
M D C Holdings [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	294,862	313,566	718,010	535,035
Inventories:
Total Assets	944,245	979,423
Total liabilities	72,985	110,787
Total Stockholder's Equity	871,260	868,636
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	944,245	979,423
M D C Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	294,862	313,566
Marketable securities	454,775	485,434
Trade and other receivables	6,713	8,368
Inventories:
Investment in subsidiaries	146,691	126,768
Other assets, net	41,204	45,287
Total Assets	944,245	979,423
Accounts payable	(4)
Accrued liabilities	58,214	67,199
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(729,695)	(700,520)
Senior notes, net	744,470	744,108
Total liabilities	72,985	110,787
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,322	2,771	3,022	4,287
Inventories:
Total Assets	876,102	819,489
Total liabilities	801,666	755,768
Total Stockholder's Equity	74,436	63,721
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	876,102	819,489
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	3,322	2,771
Restricted cash	2,260	667
Trade and other receivables	31,934	12,740
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	410,656	280,932
Land and land under development	398,860	489,305
Other assets, net	29,070	33,074
Total Assets	876,102	819,489
Accounts payable	42,382	23,409
Accrued liabilities	49,114	50,271
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	710,170	682,088
Total liabilities	801,666	755,768
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	27,940	27,024	34,803	32,903
Inventories:
Total Assets	183,958	188,377
Total liabilities	111,703	125,330
Total Stockholder's Equity	72,255	63,047
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	183,958	188,377
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	90	81
Trade and other receivables	1,694	485
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	26,631	19,782
Land and land under development	15,606	16,033
Other assets, net	8,469	8,435
Total Assets	52,490	44,816
Accounts payable	451	2,236
Accrued liabilities	4,402	1,814
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	28,480	21,998
Total liabilities	33,333	26,048
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	27,850	26,943
Accounts payable and other liabilities	52,965	52,446
Marketable securities	32,256	34,509
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	65,687	78,335
Prepaid expenses and other assets	5,675	3,774
Inventories:
Total Assets	131,468	143,561
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(7,255)	(1,866)
Mortgage repurchase facility	32,660	48,702
Total liabilities	78,370	99,282
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(148,391)	(128,564)
Total liabilities	(1,700)	(1,796)
Total Stockholder's Equity	(146,691)	(126,768)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(148,391)	(128,564)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Inventories:
Investment in subsidiaries	(146,691)	(126,768)
Other assets, net		(96)
Total Assets	(146,691)	(126,864)
Accrued liabilities		(96)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(8,955)	(3,566)
Total liabilities	(8,955)	(3,662)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,700)	(1,700)
Inventories:
Total Assets	(1,700)	(1,700)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	7,255	1,866
Total liabilities	$ 7,255	$ 1,866