Note 19 - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
MDC Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(11,228,000)	(8,638,000)		(23,330,000)	(17,560,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries	32,909,000	24,248,000		50,279,000	37,240,000
Interest and other income	2,020,000	1,728,000		2,492,000	3,291,000
Other expense	(1,000)	(1,000)		(3,000)	(3,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(288,000)			(719,000)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	23,412,000	17,529,000		28,719,000	23,246,000
Interest expense		192,000			278,000
MDC Holdings [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
MDC Holdings [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	23,412,000	17,529,000		28,719,000	23,246,000
Provision for income taxes	3,501,000	2,469,000		7,757,000	5,172,000
Net income	26,913,000	19,998,000		36,476,000	28,418,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	895,000	(360,000)		2,843,000	948,000
Comprehensive income	27,808,000	19,638,000		39,319,000	29,366,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues	571,511,000	461,708,000		968,255,000	839,627,000
Home and land cost of sales	(476,052,000)	(385,019,000)		(807,441,000)	(704,786,000)
Inventory impairments	(1,600,000)			(1,600,000)	(350,000)
Total cost of sales	(477,652,000)	(385,019,000)		(809,041,000)	(705,136,000)
Gross margin	93,859,000	76,689,000		159,214,000	134,491,000
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(53,024,000)	(46,048,000)		(97,040,000)	(87,505,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	423,000	994,000		1,152,000	1,275,000
Other expense	(277,000)	(1,054,000)		(902,000)	(2,186,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	40,981,000	30,581,000		62,424,000	46,075,000
Interest expense
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	40,981,000	30,581,000		62,424,000	46,075,000
Provision for income taxes	(13,746,000)	(11,408,000)		(20,822,000)	(17,112,000)
Net income	27,235,000	19,173,000		41,602,000	28,963,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax
Comprehensive income	27,235,000	19,173,000		41,602,000	28,963,000
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales				(300,000)
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales				(300,000)
Gross margin				(300,000)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	2,000			3,000	5,000
Other expense
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	2,000			(297,000)	5,000
Interest expense
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	8,972,000	8,020,000		14,164,000	13,122,000
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	8,974,000	8,020,000		13,867,000	13,127,000
Provision for income taxes	(3,300,000)	(2,945,000)		(5,190,000)	(4,850,000)
Net income	5,674,000	5,075,000		8,677,000	8,277,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	371,000	(539,000)		370,000	(280,000)
Comprehensive income	6,045,000	4,536,000		9,047,000	7,997,000
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(188,000)	(95,000)		(347,000)	(248,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries	(32,909,000)	(24,248,000)		(50,279,000)	(37,240,000)
Interest and other income	108,000	(2,000)		(158,000)	3,000
Other expense
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(32,989,000)	(24,537,000)		(50,784,000)	(37,763,000)
Interest expense		(192,000)			(278,000)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	80,000	289,000		505,000	523,000
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	(32,909,000)	(24,248,000)		(50,279,000)	(37,240,000)
Provision for income taxes
Net income	(32,909,000)	(24,248,000)		(50,279,000)	(37,240,000)
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	(371,000)	539,000		(370,000)	280,000
Comprehensive income	(33,280,000)	(23,709,000)		(50,649,000)	(36,960,000)
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues	571,511,000	461,708,000		968,255,000	839,627,000
Home and land cost of sales	(476,052,000)	(385,019,000)		(807,741,000)	(704,786,000)
Inventory impairments	(1,600,000)			(1,600,000)	(350,000)
Total cost of sales	(477,652,000)	(385,019,000)		(809,341,000)	(705,136,000)
Gross margin	93,859,000	76,689,000		158,914,000	134,491,000
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(64,440,000)	(54,781,000)		(120,717,000)	(105,313,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Interest and other income	2,553,000	2,720,000		3,489,000	4,574,000
Other expense	(278,000)	(1,055,000)		(905,000)	(2,189,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(288,000)			(719,000)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	31,406,000	23,573,000		40,062,000	31,563,000
Interest expense
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	9,052,000	8,309,000		14,669,000	13,645,000
Inventory impairments	(1,600,000)		$ (350,000)	(1,600,000)	(350,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(300,000)	0		(719,000)	0
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	40,458,000	31,882,000		54,731,000	45,208,000
Provision for income taxes	(13,545,000)	(11,884,000)		(18,255,000)	(16,790,000)
Net income	26,913,000	19,998,000		36,476,000	28,418,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	895,000	(360,000)		2,843,000	948,000
Comprehensive income	27,808,000	19,638,000		39,319,000	29,366,000
Interest expense