Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 215,680	$ 160,095	$ 285,739	$ 343,361
Inventories:
Total assets	2,142,334	1,945,441
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	54,540	51,864
Accrued liabilities	115,139	118,456
Senior notes, net	995,032	744,842
Mortgage repurchase facility	41,500		76,300
Total Liabilities	1,227,891	1,064,544
Total Stockholder's Equity	914,443	880,897
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,142,334	1,945,441
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	183,236	129,535
Marketable securities	626,707	519,465
Restricted cash	2,526	1,859
Trade and other receivables	31,885	28,163
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	521,661	512,949
Land and land under development	534,438	489,572
Other assets	52,274	44,777
Total assets	1,985,783	1,759,445
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	21,712	73,055
Accrued liabilities	115,139	118,456
Senior notes, net	995,032	744,842
Total Liabilities	1,131,883	936,353
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	32,444	30,560
Marketable securities	33,292	32,473
Trade and other receivables	1,399
Inventories:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	86,429	119,953
Other assets	4,386	3,010
Total assets	156,551	185,996
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	54,540	51,864
Mortgage repurchase facility	41,468	76,327
Total Liabilities	96,008	128,191
M D C Holdings [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	178,928	125,904	259,998	313,566
Inventories:
Total assets	1,978,269	1,703,693
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	1,063,826	822,796
Total Stockholder's Equity	914,443	880,897
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,978,269	1,703,693
M D C Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	178,928	125,904
Marketable securities	626,707	519,465
Trade and other receivables	9,015	6,563
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	908,332	812,731
Investment in subsidiaries	212,938	198,465
Other assets	42,349	40,565
Total assets	1,978,269	1,703,693
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	62,036	63,886
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	6,758	14,068
Senior notes, net	995,032	744,842
Total Liabilities	1,063,826	822,796
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	4,308	3,308	3,263	2,771
Inventories:
Total assets	1,130,069	992,536
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	951,696	872,173
Total Stockholder's Equity	178,373	120,363
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,130,069	992,536
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	4,308	3,308
Restricted cash	2,526	1,859
Trade and other receivables	25,057	18,846
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	521,661	469,495
Land and land under development	534,438	467,915
Intercompany receivables	2,555	2,589
Other assets	39,524	28,524
Total assets	4,308	992,536
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	21,712	67,257
Accrued liabilities	50,641	46,761
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	879,343	758,155
Total Liabilities	951,696	872,173
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	32,444	30,883	22,478	27,024
Inventories:
Total assets	164,211	274,476
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	129,646	196,374
Total Stockholder's Equity	34,565	78,102
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	164,211	274,476
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		323
Trade and other receivables		2,754
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction		43,454
Land and land under development		21,657
Other assets		8,813
Total assets		77,001
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable		5,798
Accrued liabilities	8	7,809
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	45	52,839
Total Liabilities	53	66,446
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	32,444	30,560
Marketable securities	33,292	32,473
Trade and other receivables	1,399
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	4,203	9,779
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	86,429	119,953
Other assets	6,444	4,710
Total assets	164,211	197,475
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	59,181	51,864
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	28,944	1,737
Mortgage repurchase facility	41,468	76,327
Total Liabilities	129,593	129,928
Eliminations Entries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Inventories:
Total assets	(1,130,215)	(1,025,264)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	(917,277)	(826,799)
Total Stockholder's Equity	(212,938)	(198,465)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(1,130,215)	(1,025,264)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Trade and other receivables	(2,187)
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(910,887)	(815,320)
Investment in subsidiaries	(212,938)	(198,465)
Other assets	3,457
Total assets		(1,013,785)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	2,454
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(886,146)	(825,062)
Total Liabilities	(883,692)	(825,062)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(4,203)	(9,779)
Other assets	(3,457)	(1,700)
Total assets	(7,660)	(11,479)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(4,641)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(28,944)	(1,737)
Total Liabilities	$ (33,585)	$ (1,737)