Note 19 - Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Homebuilding:
Inventory impairments	$ (3,225)	$ (350)		$ (850)	$ (3,575)	$ (850)
Interest expense						(685)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt						(9,412)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(2,200)		$ (4,300)		(2,176)	(4,293)
Income before income taxes	23,658		23,924		68,866	76,590
Financial Services:
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(8,880)		(8,466)		(25,670)	(28,086)
Net income (loss)	14,778		15,458		43,196	48,504
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	(226)		(2,484)		722	(4,203)
Comprehensive income	14,552		12,974		43,918	44,301
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	455,646		407,704		1,295,273	1,157,499
Cost of Sales	(376,767)		(340,022)		(1,081,553)	(956,197)
Inventory impairments	(4,351)				(4,701)	(850)
Total cost of sales	(381,118)		(340,022)		(1,086,254)	(957,047)
Gross margin	74,528		67,682		209,019	200,452
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(57,444)		(50,512)		(162,757)	(148,652)
Interest income	838		5,926		5,412	24,088
Interest expense						(685)
Other income (expense), net	(350)		(841)		(2,539)	(2,534)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt						(9,412)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(2,176)		(4,293)		(2,176)	(4,293)
Income before income taxes	15,396		17,962		46,959	58,964
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income before income taxes	8,262		5,962		21,907	17,626
MDC Holdings [Member]
Homebuilding:
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities					(2,176)
Income before income taxes	9,935		13,110		33,181	40,381
Financial Services:
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	4,843		2,348		10,015	8,123
Net income (loss)	14,778		15,458		43,196	48,504
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	(226)		(2,484)		722	(4,203)
Comprehensive income	14,552		12,974		43,918	44,301
MDC Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Total cost of sales	0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(11,651)		(7,813)		(29,211)	(30,534)
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	23,070		19,538		60,310	62,290
Interest income	539		5,680		3,830	23,021
Interest expense	155				433	(685)
Other income (expense), net	(2)		(2)		(5)	(6)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt						(9,412)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(2,176)		(4,293)			(4,293)
Income before income taxes	9,935		13,110		33,181	40,381
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income before income taxes	28,958		24,565		75,033	81,394
Financial Services:
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(10,874)		(8,677)		(27,986)	(29,848)
Net income (loss)	18,084		15,888		47,047	51,546
Comprehensive income	18,084		15,888		47,047	51,546
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues	455,646		407,704		1,295,273	1,157,499
Cost of Sales	(376,667)		(340,022)		(1,081,453)	(956,197)
Inventory impairments	(4,351)				(4,701)	(850)
Total cost of sales	(381,018)		(340,022)		(1,086,154)	(957,047)
Gross margin	74,628		67,682		209,119	200,452
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(45,620)		(42,532)		(133,125)	(117,619)
Interest income	298		254		1,573	1,089
Other income (expense), net	(348)		(839)		(2,534)	(2,528)
Income before income taxes	28,958		24,565		75,033	81,394
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income before income taxes	7,835		5,787		20,962	17,105
Financial Services:
(Provision) benefit for income taxes	(2,849)		(2,137)		(7,699)	(6,361)
Net income (loss)	4,986		3,650		13,263	10,744
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	1,198		(208)		918	(93)
Comprehensive income	6,184		3,442		14,181	10,651
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Cost of Sales	(100)				(100)
Total cost of sales	(100)				(100)
Gross margin	(100)				(100)
Interest income	2		3		7	12
Income before income taxes	(98)		3		(93)	12
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income before income taxes	7,933		5,784		21,055	17,093
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income before income taxes	(23,070)		(19,538)		(60,310)	(62,290)
Financial Services:
Net income (loss)	(23,070)		(19,538)		(60,310)	(62,290)
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	(1,198)		208		(918)	93
Comprehensive income	(24,268)		(19,330)		(61,228)	(62,197)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Total cost of sales	0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(173)		(167)		(421)	(499)
Equity income (loss) of subsidiaries	(23,070)		(19,538)		(60,310)	(62,290)
Interest income	(1)		(11)		2	(34)
Interest expense	(155)				(433)
Income before income taxes	(23,399)		(19,716)		(61,162)	(62,823)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income before income taxes	$ 329		$ 178		$ 852	$ 533