The tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of future tax deductions and credits not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy, which can only be utilized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods and providing tax laws continue to allow such deductions.

No definition available.

Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of the federal income tax statutory rate to the Company's effective income tax rate
Federal income tax statutory rate (as a percent)									35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal tax (as a percent)									3.20%	3.20%	3.50%
Deferred tax valuation allowance (as a percent)										(132.20%)	(39.30%)
Compensation expense (as a percent)									0.10%	0.10%	2.70%
Other (as a percent)									(0.10%)	0.20%	1.90%
Effective income tax rate (as a percent)									38.20%ryl_EffectiveIncomeTaxRate	(93.70%)ryl_EffectiveIncomeTaxRate	3.80%ryl_EffectiveIncomeTaxRate
CURRENT TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)
Federal									$ 1,891us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	$ (75)us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	$ 568us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
State									1,731	471	1,017
Total current tax expense									3,622us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	396us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1,585us-gaap_CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
DEFERRED TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)
Federal									97,210	(139,207)
State									7,833	(44,597)
Total deferred tax expense (benefit)									105,043us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(183,804)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Total income tax expense (benefit)	43,447us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30,414us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20,161us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	14,643us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2,917us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	428us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(186,952)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	199us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	108,665us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(183,408)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1,585us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
Warranty, legal and other accruals	16,653				19,900				16,653	19,900
Employee benefits	18,661				19,054				18,661	19,054
Noncash tax charge for impairment of long-lived assets	47,018				59,608				47,018	59,608
Joint ventures	3,938				4,038				3,938	4,038
Federal NOL carryforwards					72,248					72,248
Other carryforwards	6,293				994				6,293	994
State NOL carryforwards	32,524				37,971				32,524	37,971
Other	993us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther				1,131us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther				993us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther	1,131us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Total deferred tax assets	126,080us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet				214,944us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet				126,080us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet	214,944us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
Deferred recognition of income and gains	(752)				(1,196)				(752)	(1,196)
Capitalized expenses	(31,265)				(26,630)				(31,265)	(26,630)
Goodwill amortization	(1,755)				(809)				(1,755)	(809)
Other	(542)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther				(405)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther				(542)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	(405)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
Total deferred tax liabilities	(34,314)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities				(29,040)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities				(34,314)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	(29,040)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
NET DEFERRED TAX ASSET	$ 91,766us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet				$ 185,904us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet				$ 91,766us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	$ 185,904us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet