Supplemental Guarantor Information - Consolidating Balance Sheet Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Beazer homes' ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries	100.00%
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 487,795	$ 370,403	$ 537,121	$ 507,339
Restricted cash	253,260	277,058
Accounts receivable (net of allowance of $2,235 and $3,872, respectively)	24,599	28,303
Income tax receivable	6,372	4,823
Owned inventory	1,099,132	1,192,380
Consolidated inventory not owned	12,420	11,753
Investments in unconsolidated entities	42,078	9,467
Deferred tax assets, net	6,848	2,760
Property, plant and equipment, net	18,974	22,613
Previously owned rental homes, net	0	11,347
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	0	0
Other assets	30,740	46,570
Total assets	1,982,218	1,977,477
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	69,268	72,695
Other liabilities	147,718	212,187
Intercompany	0	0
Obligations related to land not owned under option agreements	4,787	5,389
Total debt (net of discounts of $3,082 and $23,243, respectively)	1,498,198	1,488,826
Total liabilities	1,719,971	1,779,097
Stockholders' equity	262,247	198,380	397,101	196,555
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,982,218	1,977,477
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	481,394	360,723	530,847	495,692
Restricted cash	252,900	276,678
Accounts receivable (net of allowance of $2,235 and $3,872, respectively)	0	0
Income tax receivable	6,372	4,823
Owned inventory	0	0
Consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Investments in unconsolidated entities	773	773
Deferred tax assets, net	6,848	2,760
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Previously owned rental homes, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	63,120	100,996
Intercompany	969,425	1,013,753
Other assets	21,307	18,550
Total assets	1,802,139	1,779,056
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	0	0
Other liabilities	49,354	93,047
Intercompany	1,098	1,072
Obligations related to land not owned under option agreements	0	0
Total debt (net of discounts of $3,082 and $23,243, respectively)	1,489,440	1,486,557
Total liabilities	1,539,892	1,580,676
Stockholders' equity	262,247	198,380
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,802,139	1,779,056
Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	8,215	10,488	8,343	11,482
Restricted cash	360	380
Accounts receivable (net of allowance of $2,235 and $3,872, respectively)	24,594	28,292
Income tax receivable	0	0
Owned inventory	1,099,132	1,192,380
Consolidated inventory not owned	12,420	11,753
Investments in unconsolidated entities	41,305	8,694
Deferred tax assets, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	18,974	22,613
Previously owned rental homes, net	0	11,347
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	0	0
Other assets	7,783	25,190
Total assets	1,212,783	1,311,137
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	69,268	72,695
Other liabilities	96,389	116,210
Intercompany	973,788	1,018,680
Obligations related to land not owned under option agreements	4,787	5,389
Total debt (net of discounts of $3,082 and $23,243, respectively)	8,758	2,269
Total liabilities	1,152,990	1,215,243
Stockholders' equity	59,793	95,894
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,212,783	1,311,137
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	646	418	200	2,915
Restricted cash	0	0
Accounts receivable (net of allowance of $2,235 and $3,872, respectively)	5	11
Income tax receivable	0	0
Owned inventory	0	0
Consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	0
Deferred tax assets, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Previously owned rental homes, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany	3,001	4,773
Other assets	1,650	2,830
Total assets	5,302	8,032
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	0	0
Other liabilities	1,975	2,930
Intercompany	0	0
Obligations related to land not owned under option agreements	0	0
Total debt (net of discounts of $3,082 and $23,243, respectively)	0	0
Total liabilities	1,975	2,930
Stockholders' equity	3,327	5,102
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,302	8,032
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	(2,460)	(1,226)	(2,269)	(2,750)
Restricted cash	0	0
Accounts receivable (net of allowance of $2,235 and $3,872, respectively)	0	0
Income tax receivable	0	0
Owned inventory	0	0
Consolidated inventory not owned	0	0
Investments in unconsolidated entities	0	0
Deferred tax assets, net	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Previously owned rental homes, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(63,120)	(100,996)
Intercompany	(972,426)	(1,018,526)
Other assets	0	0
Total assets	(1,038,006)	(1,120,748)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Trade accounts payable	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Intercompany	(974,886)	(1,019,752)
Obligations related to land not owned under option agreements	0	0
Total debt (net of discounts of $3,082 and $23,243, respectively)	0	0
Total liabilities	(974,886)	(1,019,752)
Stockholders' equity	(63,120)	(100,996)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (1,038,006)	$ (1,120,748)