Variable Interest Entities (VIE) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Lot Option Purchase Disclosures
Consolidated inventory not owned	$ 51,510,000	$ 88,289,000
Noncontrolling interest	34,969,000	61,806,000
Primary variable interest \| Lot option purchase contracts
Lot Option Purchase Disclosures
Consolidated inventory not owned	51,500,000	88,300,000
Elimination of cash deposits	16,500,000	26,500,000
Noncontrolling interest	35,000,000	61,800,000
Not primary variable interest \| Lot option purchase contracts
Lot Option Purchase Disclosures
Cash deposits and/or letters of credit	24,300,000	11,600,000
Aggregate purchase price	$ 233,600,000	$ 130,700,000

This element represents cash deposits and/or letters of credit provided to the selling party in accordance with the terms of a lot option purchase contract that was determined to be a variable interest entity; however, the entity does not have the primary variable interest in the VIE.

Name:	ryl_CashDepositsAndOrLettersOfCreditNotPrimaryVariableInterest
Namespace Prefix:	ryl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the elimination of cash deposits for lot option purchase contracts upon consolidation of variable interest entities in accordance with ASC 810.

+ Details

Name:	ryl_CashDepositsElimination
Namespace Prefix:	ryl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Consolidation of inventory relating to land and lot option purchase contracts, and/or homebuilding joint ventures, where it has been determined that the entity has the primary variable interest.

+ Details

Name:	ryl_InventoryRealEstateNotOwned
Namespace Prefix:	ryl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Noncontrolling interest represents the selling entities' ownership interest in land and lot option purchase contracts, which have been reported as consolidated inventory not owned.

+ Details

Name:	ryl_NoncontrollingInterestLandAndLotOptionContracts
Namespace Prefix:	ryl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate purchase price of lots expected to be purchased in accordance with executed lot option purchase contracts that were determined to be variable interest entities; however, the entity does not have the primary variable interest in the VIEs.

+ Details

Name:	ryl_RealEstateAggregatePurchasePriceNotPrimaryVariableInterest
Namespace Prefix:	ryl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration