Supplemental Guarantor Information (Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Homebuilding    
Home sale revenues $ 1,394,243 $ 1,088,158
Land sale revenues 2,487 17,542
Total homebuilding revenues 1,396,730 1,105,700
Financial Services 35,848 27,598
Total revenues 1,432,578 1,133,298
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:    
Home sale cost of revenues 1,089,329 841,145
Land sale cost of revenues 2,028 13,378
Total cost of revenues 1,091,357 854,523
Financial Services expenses 26,119 22,541
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 191,015 161,312
Other expense (income), net 5,874 (883)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (170) (1,107)
Intercompany interest 0 0
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 118,213 95,805
Income tax expense (benefit) 34,913 40,834
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 83,300 54,971
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0
Net income 83,300 54,971
Other comprehensive income 21 21
Comprehensive income (loss) 83,321 54,992
PulteGroup, Inc.    
Homebuilding    
Home sale revenues 0 0
Land sale revenues 0 0
Total homebuilding revenues 0 0
Financial Services 0 0
Total revenues 0 0
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:    
Home sale cost of revenues 0 0
Land sale cost of revenues 0 0
Total cost of revenues 0 0
Financial Services expenses 0 187
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 0 0
Other expense (income), net 170 174
Intercompany interest 510 7,723
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries (680) (8,084)
Income tax expense (benefit) (263) (3,072)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries (417) (5,012)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 83,717 59,983
Net income 83,300 54,971
Other comprehensive income 21 21
Comprehensive income (loss) 83,321 54,992
Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Homebuilding    
Home sale revenues 1,393,259 1,088,158
Land sale revenues 2,010 17,542
Total homebuilding revenues 1,395,269 1,105,700
Financial Services 0 0
Total revenues 1,395,269 1,105,700
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:    
Home sale cost of revenues 1,087,165 841,145
Land sale cost of revenues 1,643 13,378
Total cost of revenues 1,088,808 854,523
Financial Services expenses 123 (168)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 187,581 160,828
Other expense (income), net 9,676 (708)
Intercompany interest 2,184 (5,422)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 106,897 96,647
Income tax expense (benefit) 30,568 41,097
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 76,329 55,550
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 7,010 4,337
Net income 83,339 59,887
Other comprehensive income 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) 83,339 59,887
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Homebuilding    
Home sale revenues 984 0
Land sale revenues 477 0
Total homebuilding revenues 1,461 0
Financial Services 35,848 27,598
Total revenues 37,309 27,598
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:    
Home sale cost of revenues 2,164 0
Land sale cost of revenues 385 0
Total cost of revenues 2,549 0
Financial Services expenses 25,996 22,522
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 3,434 484
Other expense (income), net (3,972) (349)
Intercompany interest (2,694) (2,301)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 11,996 7,242
Income tax expense (benefit) 4,608 2,809
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 7,388 4,433
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 111,918 52,063
Net income 119,306 56,496
Other comprehensive income 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) 119,306 56,496
Eliminating Entries    
Homebuilding    
Home sale revenues 0 0
Land sale revenues 0 0
Total homebuilding revenues 0 0
Financial Services 0 0
Total revenues 0 0
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:    
Home sale cost of revenues 0 0
Land sale cost of revenues 0 0
Total cost of revenues 0 0
Financial Services expenses 0 0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 0 0
Other expense (income), net 0 0
Intercompany interest 0 0
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0
Income tax expense (benefit) 0 0
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries (202,645) (116,383)
Net income (202,645) (116,383)
Other comprehensive income 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) $ (202,645) $ (116,383)