Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	50,820,548	50,685,699	50,719,884	50,598,901
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)	50,583,128
Beginning balance	$ 485,632	$ 433,038
Ending balance (in shares)	50,675,930
Ending balance	$ 485,657	439,068
Common shares, $0.01 par value: 100,000,000 shares authorized; 50,820,548 and 50,719,884 issued and 50,675,930 and 50,583,128 outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively	$ 508	$ 507	$ 507	$ 506
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	(144,618)	0	(136,756)	0
Treasury Stock, Value	$ (1,041)	$ 0	$ (981)	$ 0
Additional Paid in Capital	291,271	290,773	291,299	289,938
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	190,131	137,106	177,526	125,903
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	480,869	428,386	468,351	416,347
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Requisite Service Period Recognition	$ 71	$ 71
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	159,780	106,026
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	$ 1,466	$ 1,081
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation	(59,116)	(39,228)
Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation		$ (412)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition	$ 101	96
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	(7,862)
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	$ (60)
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	12,605	11,203
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	(1,758)	2,036
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	10,847	13,239
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	4,788	10,682	$ 17,281	$ 16,691
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests	10,735	$ 8,045
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions		20,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(10,735)	$ (8,045)
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	2	1
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	1,464	1,080
Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation	(544)	$ (412)
Temporary Equity, Accretion to Redemption Value, Adjustment	$ (1,120)

Excess of issue price over par or stated value of the entity's capital stock and amounts received from other transactions involving the entity's stock or stockholders. Includes adjustments to additional paid in capital. Some examples of such adjustments include recording the issuance of debt with a beneficial conversion feature and certain tax consequences of equity instruments awarded to employees. Use this element for the aggregate amount of additional paid-in capital associated with common and preferred stock. For additional paid-in capital associated with only common stock, use the element additional paid in capital, common stock. For additional paid-in capital associated with only preferred stock, use the element additional paid in capital, preferred stock.

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