The maximum leverage ratio required by the debt agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	mdc_DebtInstrumentCovenantMaximumLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum common stock outstanding ownership percentage required by the debt agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdc_DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumCommonStockOutstandingOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdc_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	mdc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_StandbyLettersOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=mdc_MortgageRepurchaseFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_WarehouseAgreementBorrowingsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 18 - Lines of Credit (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 29, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 27, 2016	Dec. 26, 2016	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 26, 2016	Dec. 18, 2015	Nov. 12, 2008
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 52.9
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 1,000.0							$ 550.0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	0.00%
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Maximum Leverage Ratio	55.00%
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Minimum Common Stock Outstanding Ownership, Percentage	50.00%
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 15.0		$ 15.0
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	$ 509.9
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity Percentage	50.00%
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 25.1		23.0
Mortgage Repurchase Facility [Member] \| Warehouse Agreement Borrowings [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 100.0		$ 125.0	$ 75.0	$ 75.0	$ 75.0		$ 50.0
Long-term Line of Credit	$ 70.5		$ 114.5