Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating activities	$ (656.5)	$ (1.7)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment	(14.0)	(2.4)
Purchases of marketable securities	(26.8)	(24.4)
Proceeds from the sale or maturity of marketable securities	226.7	21.5
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	(5.5)	4.5
Net principal increase of mortgage loans held in portfolio and real estate owned	(0.2)	(1.6)
Payments to Acquire Other Investments	(18.6)	0
Payment related to acquisition of a business	(9.4)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	152.2	(2.4)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net change in notes payable	81.6	16.9
Proceeds from stock associated with certain employee benefit plans	2.1	4.6
Cash dividends paid	(60.2)	(11.9)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	23.5	9.6
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(480.8)	5.5
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,047.7	732.6
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	566.9	738.1
D.R. Horton, Inc. [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating activities	(186.2)	(8.5)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment	(6.5)	(0.7)
Purchases of marketable securities	(26.8)	(24.4)
Proceeds from the sale or maturity of marketable securities	226.7	21.5
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	(5.3)	4.6
Payments to Acquire Other Investments	(18.6)
Payment related to acquisition of a business	(9.4)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	160.1	1.0
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net change in notes payable	100.0	(11.7)
Net change in intercompany receivables/payables	(458.1)	47.9
Proceeds from stock associated with certain employee benefit plans	2.1	4.6
Cash dividends paid	(60.2)	(11.9)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(416.2)	28.9
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(442.3)	21.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	968.9	681.3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	526.6	702.7
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating activities	(491.3)	(6.3)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment	(3.7)	(1.6)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	(0.2)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(3.9)	(1.6)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net change in notes payable	0	(0.9)
Net change in intercompany receivables/payables	457.8	(7.7)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	457.8	(8.6)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(37.4)	(16.5)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	56.3	31.3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	18.9	14.8
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating activities	51.0	13.1
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment	(3.8)	(0.1)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	0	(0.1)
Net principal increase of mortgage loans held in portfolio and real estate owned	(0.2)	(1.6)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(4.0)	(1.8)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net change in notes payable	(18.4)	29.5
Net change in intercompany receivables/payables	0.3	(40.2)
Cash dividends paid	(30.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(48.1)	(10.7)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(1.1)	0.6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	22.5	20.0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	21.4	20.6
Eliminations [Member]
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating activities	(30.0)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash dividends paid	30.0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ 30.0