The amount of cash restricted at the end of a period to serve as collateral for outstanding letters of credit.

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Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Commitments and Contingencies.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_CommitmentsAndContingenciesTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Deposits.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_DepositsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Land and lot option purchase contracts remaining purchase obligation subject to specific performance clauses.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_LandAndLotOptionPurchaseContractsRemainingPurchaseObligationSubjectToSpecificPerformanceClauses
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Limited warranty for major defects in structural components and foundation systems.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_LimitedWarrantyForMajorDefectsInStructuralComponentsAndFoundationSystems
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Limited warranty on major mechanical systems.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_LimitedWarrantyOnMajorMechanicalSystems
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Limited warranty on other construction components.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_LimitedWarrantyOnOtherConstructionComponents
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate expense to date charged against earnings related to the remediation of homes containing Chinese drywall.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_ProductWarrantyExpenseRelatedToChineseDrywall
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The liability as of the balance sheet date related to the remediation of homes containing Chinese drywall.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_ProductWarrantyLiabilityRelatedToChineseDrywall
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The balance of surety bonds at the end of the period.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_SuretyBonds
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The remaining purchase price of land under option contracts, which represents the unrecorded conditional purchase obligation as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	dhi_UnrecordedConditionalPurchaseObligation
Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the asset transferred to a third party to serve as a deposit, which typically serves as security against failure by the transferor to perform under terms of an agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 17
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 8
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the expenses incurred by the entity which are directly related and attributable to receiving an award in settlement of litigation.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

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Balance Type:	credit
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Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010
Deposits [Line Items]
Land option contract deposits	$ 14.8
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Limited warranty for major defects in structural components and foundation systems	10 years
Limited warranty on major mechanical systems	2 years
Limited warranty on other construction components	1 year
Liability related to homes containing Chinese drywall	1.5
Cost to remediate homes containing Chinese drywall	6.0
Liabilities for various claims, complaints and other legal actions	523.2		571.3
Estimated insurance recoveries related to legal claims	214.2		251.5
Expenses related to legal claims	18.7	34.6
Remaining purchase price of land under option contracts	981.7
Land and lot option purchase contracts remaining purchase obligation subject to specific performance clauses	12.0
Outstanding letters of credit	47.8
Surety bonds	741.3
Cash collateral on letters of credit	48.4		52.6
Cash deposits [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Land option contract deposits	12.8
Promissory notes and surety bonds [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Land option contract deposits	$ 2.0