Retirement Plan and Incentive Awards (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	$ 1,500,000
Employer matching contribution (percentage)	50.00%
Maximum percentage of employee gross pay subject to employer match	6.00%
Total employer contributions during period	1,100,000	1,300,000		1,500,000
Total matching contributions forfeited by plan participants during period	500,000	300,000		200,000
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	25,579,000	24,612,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	300,000
Intrinsic value of SSARs/stock options vested and expected to vest	1,500,000
Unrecognized compensation cost	1,000,000	2,100,000
Weighted average period to recognize remaining cost	1 year 2 months 12 days
SSARs and Stock Options
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Weighted average expected life of the SSARs / stock options vested and expected to vest	2 years 7 months 12 days
Non-cash stock based compensation expense	900,000	1,500,000		3,400,000
Performance-based restricted stock issued	160,651	109,507		150,853
Dividend yield for the Company	0.00%	0.00%		0.00%
Expected price volatitlity	46.15%	44.77%		51.70%
Risk-free interest rate	0.63%	0.90%		1.22%
Performance Shares
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Performance-based restricted stock issued	31,532
Estimated fair value of nonvested stock ($ per share)	$ 5.02
Dividend yield for the Company	0.00%
Risk-free interest rate	0.34%
Restricted Stock
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Unvested restricted stock returned (shares)		(10,502)	[1]
Nonvested Stock Awards and Performance Shares
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Non-cash stock based compensation expense	2,000,000	2,600,000		3,800,000
Performance-based restricted stock issued	99,413	179,913		150,853
Estimated fair value of nonvested stock ($ per share)	$ 10.95	$ 7.19		$ 23.45
Unvested restricted stock returned (shares)	0	0	[1]	(10,502)
Minimum
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Employee deferral and contribution percentage	1.00%
Minimum | Performance Shares
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expected price volatitlity	35.60%
Maximum
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Employee deferral and contribution percentage	80.00%
Maximum | Performance Shares
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Expected price volatitlity	60.40%
Beazer Homes USA Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Deferred compensation plan assets	700,000	1,100,000
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	2,300,000	2,400,000
Deferred compensation plan employer contributions during period	$ 215,000	$ 205,000		$ 197,000
2010 Stock Incentive Plan
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Shares of common stock reserved for issuance under plan	900,000
Shares of common stock available for future grants	300,000

[1] (a) Our former Chief Executive Offer returned 10,502 shares of unvested restricted stock in accordance with his consent agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.