Supplemental Guarantor Information - Supplemental Condensed Combining Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 249,418	$ 160,095	$ 326,124	$ 343,361
Inventories:
Deferred tax asset, net	184,221
Total Assets	2,496,542	1,945,441
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	53,798	51,864
Accrued liabilities	137,209	118,456
Mortgage repurchase facility	48,800	76,300
Total Liabilities	1,357,347	1,064,544
Total Stockholder's Equity	1,139,195	880,897
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,496,542	1,945,441
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	208,883	129,535
Marketable securities	610,404	519,465
Restricted cash	2,679	1,859
Trade Receivables	36,676	28,163
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	569,218	512,949
Land and land under development	628,282	489,572
Total Inventories	1,197,500	1,002,521
Deferred tax asset, net	184,221
Other assets	61,103	44,777
Total Assets	2,333,650	1,759,445
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	22,267	73,055
Accrued liabilities	137,209	118,456
Senior notes, net	1,095,225	744,842
Total Liabilities	1,254,701	936,353
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	40,535	30,560
Marketable securities	24,037	32,473
Inventories:
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	92,463	119,953
Other assets	5,857	3,010
Total Assets	162,892	185,996
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	53,798	51,864
Mortgage repurchase facility	48,848	76,327
Total Liabilities	102,646	128,191
M D C Holdings [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	204,946	125,904	294,862	313,566
Inventories:
Total Assets	2,327,610	1,703,693
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	1,188,415	822,796
Total Stockholder's Equity	1,139,195	880,897
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,327,610	1,703,693
M D C Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	204,946	125,904
Marketable securities	610,404	519,465
Trade Receivables	9,673	6,563
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	1,020,908	812,731
Investment in subsidiaries	251,574	198,465
Deferred tax asset, net	180,876
Other assets	49,229	40,565
Total Assets	2,327,610	1,703,693
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	56
Accrued liabilities	78,863	63,886
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	14,271	14,068
Senior notes, net	1,095,225	744,842
Total Liabilities	1,188,415	822,796
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3,937	3,308	3,322	2,771
Inventories:
Total Assets	1,279,945	992,536
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	1,066,875	872,173
Total Stockholder's Equity	213,070	120,363
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	1,279,945	992,536
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3,937	3,308
Restricted cash	2,679	1,859
Trade Receivables	29,193	18,846
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction	569,218	469,495
Land and land under development	628,282	467,915
Total Inventories	1,197,500	937,410
Intercompany receivables	2,578	2,589
Other assets	44,058	28,524
Total Assets	1,279,945	992,536
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	22,211	67,257
Accrued liabilities	55,624	46,761
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	989,040	758,155
Total Liabilities	1,066,875	872,173
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	40,535	30,883	27,940	27,024
Inventories:
Total Assets	177,930	274,476
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	139,426	196,374
Total Stockholder's Equity	38,504	78,102
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	177,930	274,476
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		323
Trade Receivables		2,754
Inventories:
Housing completed or under construction		43,454
Land and land under development		21,657
Total Inventories		65,111
Other assets		8,813
Total Assets		77,001
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable		5,798
Accrued liabilities	2	7,809
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	51	52,839
Total Liabilities	53	66,446
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	40,535	30,560
Marketable securities	24,037	32,473
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	11,693	9,779
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, net	92,463	119,953
Other assets	9,202	4,710
Total Assets	177,930	197,475
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	58,708	51,864
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	31,817	1,737
Mortgage repurchase facility	48,848	76,327
Total Liabilities	139,373	129,928
Eliminations Entries [Member]
Inventories:
Total Assets	(1,288,943)	(1,025,264)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Liabilities	(1,037,369)	(826,799)
Total Stockholder's Equity	(251,574)	(198,465)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	(1,288,943)	(1,025,264)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Trade Receivables	(2,190)
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(1,023,486)	(815,320)
Investment in subsidiaries	(251,574)	(198,465)
Deferred tax asset, net	3,345
Total Assets	(1,273,905)	(1,013,785)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accrued liabilities	2,720
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(1,003,362)	(825,062)
Total Liabilities	(1,000,642)	(825,062)
Eliminations Entries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Inventories:
Intercompany receivables	(11,693)	(9,779)
Other assets	(3,345)	(1,700)
Total Assets	(15,038)	(11,479)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(4,910)
Advances and notes payable to parent and subsidiaries	(31,817)	(1,737)
Total Liabilities	$ (36,727)	$ (1,737)