Fair Values of Financial and Nonfinancial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013 Loan	Dec. 31, 2012 Loan
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	$ 367,521,000	$ 385,625,000
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, unpaid principal balance	84,600,000	103,400,000
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance	1,800,000	4,600,000
Number of loans 90 days or more past due	1	0
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, aggregate carrying value of loans with payments 90 days or more past due	247,000
Mortgage loans held-for-sale, aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans with payments 90 days or more past due	397,000
U.S. Treasury securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	93,694,000	3,099,000
Obligations of U.S. government agencies
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	20,226,000	133,110,000
Municipal debt securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	37,029,000	22,183,000
Corporate debt securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	164,855,000	163,393,000
Asset-backed securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	24,685,000	27,314,000
Time deposits
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	1,804,000	0
Short-term pooled investments
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	25,228,000	36,526,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 1 \| U.S. Treasury securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	93,694,000	3,099,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 1 \| Obligations of U.S. government agencies
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	20,226,000	133,110,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 1 \| Short-term pooled investments
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	25,228,000	36,526,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 2 \| Mortgage loans held-for-sale
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	86,463,000	107,950,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 2 \| Mortgage interest rate lock commitments ("IRLCs")
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	9,770,000	4,737,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 2 \| Forward-delivery contracts
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	(6,878,000)	(369,000)
Recurring Measurement \| Level 2 \| Municipal debt securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	37,029,000	22,183,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 2 \| Corporate debt securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	164,855,000	163,393,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 2 \| Asset-backed securities
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	24,685,000	27,314,000
Recurring Measurement \| Level 2 \| Time deposits
Fair value measurement for financial instruments
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	$ 1,804,000	$ 0

Name:	ryl_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ryl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of mortgage loans that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePastDueEqualToOrGreaterThan90DaysNumber
Namespace Prefix:	ryl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate unpaid principal balance outstanding of mortgage loans held-for-sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ryl_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateUnpaidPrincipalBalance
Namespace Prefix:	ryl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (aa)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of loans held as assets that are 90 days or more past due for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssets90DaysOrMorePastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For loans held as assets for which the fair value option has been elected, this item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of those loans that are 90 days or more past due, in nonaccrual status, or both.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueOptionLoansHeldAsAssetsAggregateDifference
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of principal due on loans that have been delinquent, which may exclude loans having interest delinquent for three months or less, as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.10(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePrincipalAmountOfDelinquentLoans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant