Supplemental Guarantor Information (Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2015
Homebuilding        
Home sale revenues $ 1,751,882 $ 1,243,077 $ 3,146,125 $ 2,331,235
Land sale revenues 4,950 6,460 7,437 24,002
Total homebuilding revenues 1,756,832 1,249,537 3,153,562 2,355,237
Financial Services 43,082 30,754 78,930 58,352
Total revenues 1,799,914 1,280,291 3,232,492 2,413,589
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:        
Home sale cost of revenues 1,374,509 953,280 2,463,838 1,794,425
Land sale cost of revenues 4,403 5,312 6,430 18,691
Total cost of revenues 1,378,912 958,592 2,470,268 1,813,116
Financial Services expenses 26,180 20,767 52,298 43,308
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 192,333 130,119 383,348 291,431
Other expense (income), net 12,909 3,186 18,785 2,303
Intercompany interest 0 0 0 0
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 189,580 167,627 307,793 263,431
Income tax expense (benefit) 71,820 64,303 106,733 105,136
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 117,760 103,324 201,060 158,295
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0
Net income 117,760 103,324 201,060 158,295
Other comprehensive income 20 21 41 42
Comprehensive income (loss) 117,780 103,345 201,101 158,337
PulteGroup, Inc.        
Homebuilding        
Home sale revenues 0 0 0 0
Land sale revenues 0 0 0 0
Total homebuilding revenues 0 0 0 0
Financial Services 0 0 0 0
Total revenues 0 0 0 0
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:        
Home sale cost of revenues 0 0 0 0
Land sale cost of revenues 0 0 0 0
Total cost of revenues 0 0 0 0
Financial Services expenses 0 101 0 288
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 0 0 0 0
Other expense (income), net 170 198 340 373
Intercompany interest 490 (6,781) 1,000 943
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries (660) 6,482 (1,340) (1,604)
Income tax expense (benefit) (246) 2,462 (509) (609)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries (414) 4,020 (831) (995)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 118,174 99,304 201,891 159,290
Net income 117,760 103,324 201,060 158,295
Other comprehensive income 20 21 41 42
Comprehensive income (loss) 117,780 103,345 201,101 158,337
Guarantor Subsidiaries        
Homebuilding        
Home sale revenues 1,746,484 1,243,077 3,139,743 2,331,235
Land sale revenues 3,893 6,460 5,903 24,002
Total homebuilding revenues 1,750,377 1,249,537 3,145,646 2,355,237
Financial Services 0 0 0 0
Total revenues 1,750,377 1,249,537 3,145,646 2,355,237
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:        
Home sale cost of revenues 1,369,003 953,280 2,456,168 1,794,425
Land sale cost of revenues 3,505 5,312 5,148 18,691
Total cost of revenues 1,372,508 958,592 2,461,316 1,813,116
Financial Services expenses 137 (92) 260 (261)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 184,515 129,457 372,097 290,285
Other expense (income), net 20,759 3,139 30,434 2,431
Intercompany interest 2,035 9,269 4,219 3,847
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 170,423 149,172 277,320 245,819
Income tax expense (benefit) 64,415 57,270 94,983 98,365
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 106,008 91,902 182,337 147,454
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 2,869 7,332 9,879 11,669
Net income 108,877 99,234 192,216 159,123
Other comprehensive income 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) 108,877 99,234 192,216 159,123
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries        
Homebuilding        
Home sale revenues 5,398 0 6,382 0
Land sale revenues 1,057 0 1,534 0
Total homebuilding revenues 6,455 0 7,916 0
Financial Services 43,082 30,754 78,930 58,352
Total revenues 49,537 30,754 86,846 58,352
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:        
Home sale cost of revenues 5,506 0 7,670 0
Land sale cost of revenues 898 0 1,282 0
Total cost of revenues 6,404 0 8,952 0
Financial Services expenses 26,043 20,758 52,038 43,281
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 7,818 662 11,251 1,146
Other expense (income), net (8,020) (151) (11,989) (501)
Intercompany interest (2,525) (2,488) (5,219) (4,790)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 19,817 11,973 31,813 19,216
Income tax expense (benefit) 7,651 4,571 12,259 7,380
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 12,166 7,402 19,554 11,836
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 73,975 92,596 185,893 144,659
Net income 86,141 99,998 205,447 156,495
Other comprehensive income 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) 86,141 99,998 205,447 156,495
Eliminating Entries        
Homebuilding        
Home sale revenues 0 0 0 0
Land sale revenues 0 0 0 0
Total homebuilding revenues 0 0 0 0
Financial Services 0 0 0 0
Total revenues 0 0 0 0
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:        
Home sale cost of revenues 0 0 0 0
Land sale cost of revenues 0 0 0 0
Total cost of revenues 0 0 0 0
Financial Services expenses 0 0 0 0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses 0 0 0 0
Other expense (income), net 0 0 0 0
Intercompany interest 0 0 0 0
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0
Income tax expense (benefit) 0 0 0 0
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries 0 0 0 0
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries (195,018) (199,232) (397,663) (315,618)
Net income (195,018) (199,232) (397,663) (315,618)
Other comprehensive income 0 0 0 0
Comprehensive income (loss) $ (195,018) $ (199,232) $ (397,663) $ (315,618)