Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2015	Jul. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jul. 23, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					$ 491	$ 0
AmortizationofDeferredStockCompensationAmount					$ 127	41
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	17,000,000
Share Price	$ 10.00
AdditionalPurchaseOptionPeriod		30-day
CommonSharesGrantedToUnderwritersToCoverOver-Allotments	841,500
CommonSharesSoldPursuantToUnderwritersOption							444,897
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (shares)					48,833,323
Beginning balance	$ 194,332	$ 194,332			$ 371,855	181,597
Share-based compensation					219	155
Contributions					2,351	87
Distributions					(6,292)	(2,673)
Out-of-period equity adjustment					0	1,933
Net income			$ 9,418	$ 7,004	$ 13,908	13,192
Ending balance (shares)			48,937,084		48,937,084
Ending balance			$ 382,659	194,332	$ 382,659	194,332
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	12,539	12,539			12,323	9,739
Contributions					2,351	87
Distributions					(6,292)	(2,673)
Net income					4,071	5,386
Ending balance			12,453	12,539	12,453	12,539
Total Green Brick Partners, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					491	0
AmortizationofDeferredStockCompensationAmount					127	41
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 181,793	$ 181,793			359,532	171,858
Share-based compensation					219	155
Distributions					0	0
Out-of-period equity adjustment						1,933
Net income					9,837	7,806
Ending balance			$ 370,206	$ 181,793	370,206	$ 181,793
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					$ 1
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (shares)	31,368,992	31,368,992			48,833,323	31,346,084
Beginning balance	$ 313	$ 313			$ 488	$ 313
Ending balance (shares)			48,937,084	31,368,992	48,937,084	31,368,992
Ending balance			$ 489	$ 313	$ 489	$ 313
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					103,761	22,908
Additional Paid-in Capital
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					$ 490	$ 0
AmortizationofDeferredStockCompensationAmount					127	41
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	101,822	101,822			271,867	101,626
Share-based compensation					219	155
Ending balance			272,703	101,822	272,703	101,822
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 79,658	$ 79,658			87,177	69,919
Distributions					0	0
Out-of-period equity adjustment						1,933
Net income					9,837	7,806
Ending balance			$ 97,014	$ 79,658	$ 97,014	$ 79,658