Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 119,764	$ 91,670	$ 98,936	$ 69,958	$ 85,508	$ 75,198	$ 71,987	$ 58,452	$ 380,328	$ 291,145	$ 246,102
Gross profit(1)	29,201	20,644	22,116	14,414	16,904	14,387	15,922	15,039	86,375	62,252	58,221
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	$ 7,676	$ 6,243	$ 6,743	$ 3,094	$ 4,693	$ 2,826	$ 3,788	$ 4,018	$ 23,756	$ 15,325	$ 50,026
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc. per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.14	$ 0.06	$ 0.10	$ 0.06	$ 0.12	$ 0.13	$ 0.49	$ 0.38	$ 3.40
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.14	$ 0.06	$ 0.10	$ 0.06	$ 0.12	$ 0.13	$ 0.49	$ 0.38	$ 3.40