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Inventory Impairments and Land Option Contract Abandonments (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014
community
Aug. 31, 2014
Nov. 30, 2013
community
Aug. 31, 2014
Nov. 30, 2014
lot
property
community
Nov. 30, 2013
property
lot
community
Nov. 30, 2012
lot
property
May 31, 2014
Feb. 28, 2014
May 31, 2013
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Impairment of Real Estate $ (34,200,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate $ (3,400,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate $ (400,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate   $ (37,628,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate $ (391,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate $ (28,107,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate      
Acquisition Costs Related To Land Option Contracts And Other Similar Contracts 48,000,000kbh_AcquisitionCostsRelatedToLandOptionContractsAndOtherSimilarContracts   31,000,000kbh_AcquisitionCostsRelatedToLandOptionContractsAndOtherSimilarContracts   48,000,000kbh_AcquisitionCostsRelatedToLandOptionContractsAndOtherSimilarContracts 31,000,000kbh_AcquisitionCostsRelatedToLandOptionContractsAndOtherSimilarContracts        
Carrying Value of Communities of Land Parcels Evaluated for Impairment 266,900,000kbh_CarryingValueofCommunitiesorLandParcelsEvaluatedforImpairment   146,000,000kbh_CarryingValueofCommunitiesorLandParcelsEvaluatedforImpairment   266,900,000kbh_CarryingValueofCommunitiesorLandParcelsEvaluatedforImpairment 146,000,000kbh_CarryingValueofCommunitiesorLandParcelsEvaluatedforImpairment 317,400,000kbh_CarryingValueofCommunitiesorLandParcelsEvaluatedforImpairment      
Number of land parcels or communities associated with non cash inventory impairment charges         8kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesAssociatedWithNonCashInventoryImpairmentCharges 1kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesAssociatedWithNonCashInventoryImpairmentCharges 14kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesAssociatedWithNonCashInventoryImpairmentCharges      
Communities Reactivated       30kbh_CommunitiesReactivated            
Number of land parcels or communities evaluated for recoverability         32kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesEvaluatedForRecoverability 31kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesEvaluatedForRecoverability 61kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesEvaluatedForRecoverability      
Aggregate carrying value of inventory impacted by pretax, noncash inventory impairment charges 266,600,000kbh_AggregateCarryingValueOfInventoryImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges   293,100,000kbh_AggregateCarryingValueOfInventoryImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges   266,600,000kbh_AggregateCarryingValueOfInventoryImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges 293,100,000kbh_AggregateCarryingValueOfInventoryImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges        
Number of communities and various other land parcels impacted by pretax, noncash inventory impairment charges 33kbh_NumberOfCommunitiesAndVariousOtherLandParcelsImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges   42kbh_NumberOfCommunitiesAndVariousOtherLandParcelsImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges   33kbh_NumberOfCommunitiesAndVariousOtherLandParcelsImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges 42kbh_NumberOfCommunitiesAndVariousOtherLandParcelsImpactedByPretaxNoncashInventoryImpairmentCharges        
Number of Lots on which abandonment charges are recognized         1,306kbh_LotOptionContractAbandonment 295kbh_LotOptionContractAbandonment 446kbh_LotOptionContractAbandonment      
Remaining useful life in addition to specified useful lives         1 year          
Land Option Contract Abandonment Lots Associated with Projects Less Than $100,000         7,292kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentLotsAssociatedwithProjectsLessThan100000 9,406kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentLotsAssociatedwithProjectsLessThan100000 8,157kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentLotsAssociatedwithProjectsLessThan100000      
Specified period of remaining useful lives         10 years          
Expected realization period of inventory maximum         5 years          
Land [Member]                    
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Impairment of Real Estate         (26,600,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember		          
Number of land parcels or communities associated with non cash inventory impairment charges         2kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesAssociatedWithNonCashInventoryImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember		          
Communities [Member]                    
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Impairment of Real Estate         (11,000,000)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= kbh_CommunitiesMember		          
Number of land parcels or communities associated with non cash inventory impairment charges       3kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesAssociatedWithNonCashInventoryImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= kbh_CommunitiesMember		 6kbh_NumberOfLandParcelsOrCommunitiesAssociatedWithNonCashInventoryImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= kbh_CommunitiesMember		          
Minimum                    
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Fair Value Estimate Input at Average Selling Price         216,100kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtAverageSellingPrice
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1] 339,700kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtAverageSellingPrice
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1] 115,200kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtAverageSellingPrice
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1]      
Fair Value Estimate Input at Sales for Period         1kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtDeliveryForPeriod
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1] 1kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtDeliveryForPeriod
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1] 1kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtDeliveryForPeriod
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1]      
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate         17.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1] 17.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1] 17.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 [1]      
Maximum                    
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Fair Value Estimate Input at Average Selling Price         316,800kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtAverageSellingPrice
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1] 339,700kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtAverageSellingPrice
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1] 556,300kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtAverageSellingPrice
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1]      
Fair Value Estimate Input at Sales for Period         4kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtDeliveryForPeriod
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1] 1kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtDeliveryForPeriod
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1] 6kbh_FairValueEstimateInputAtDeliveryForPeriod
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1]      
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate         19.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1] 17.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1] 20.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 [1]      
Acquisition Costs Related To Land Option Contracts And Other Similar Contracts 100,000kbh_AcquisitionCostsRelatedToLandOptionContractsAndOtherSimilarContracts
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		       100,000kbh_AcquisitionCostsRelatedToLandOptionContractsAndOtherSimilarContracts
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		          
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]                    
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 30,600,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		   1,100,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		   30,600,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 1,100,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		 39,900,000us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember		      
Land Option Contract Abandonment [Member]                    
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Loss on Contract Termination   $ 1,000,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember		 $ 2,900,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember		   $ 1,803,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember		 $ 3,190,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember		 $ 426,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember		 $ 400,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember		 $ 400,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember		 $ 300,000us-gaap_LossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= kbh_LandOptionContractAbandonmentMember
Palizada [Member] | West Coast [Member] | Land [Member]                    
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]                    
Area of Land 80us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= kbh_PalizadaMember
/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kbh_WestCoastMember		       80us-gaap_AreaOfLand
/ us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsOfUnprovedPropertiesExcludedFromAmortizationByPropertyOrProjectAxis
= kbh_PalizadaMember
/ us-gaap_ImpairedLongLivedAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kbh_WestCoastMember		          
[1] The ranges of inputs used in each period primarily reflect differences between the housing markets where each of the impacted communities or land parcels are located, rather than fluctuations in prevailing market conditions.