No definition available.

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

- Definition

This element represents the number of active homebuilding joint ventures of the entity as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of lots that are controlled by the entity through its joint ventures under real estate option agreements as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the homebuilding interest capitalized to investments in unconsolidated joint ventures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsAndJointVenturesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of investments in unconsolidated real estate and other joint ventures not separately presented. This includes direct and indirect investments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=ryl_NorthMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_TX
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=ryl_WestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Investments in Joint Ventures (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Investments in Joint Ventures (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) joint_venture item	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) joint_venture item	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) item
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Number of active homebuilding joint ventures \| joint_venture	5		5
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures \| $	$ 13,100		$ 13,100		$ 12,600
Homebuilding interest capitalized to investments in unconsolidated joint ventures \| $	906		906		$ 837
Equity in earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures \| $	$ 281	$ 261	$ 497	$ 363
Joint ventures
Lots
JV Lots Optioned	611		611		623
North \| Joint ventures
Lots
JV Lots Optioned	155		155		155
Texas \| Joint ventures
Lots
JV Lots Optioned	230		230		242
West \| Joint ventures
Lots
JV Lots Optioned	226		226		226