Statement of Shareholders' Equity (Statement) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interest	Preferred stock GRBK PRA	Parent	Treasury Stock, Common
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 0
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	45,005,175
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 450
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	0
Additional Paid in Capital	$ 255,614
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	997,037
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,300,704
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	17,309
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,318,013
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)						2,000
Preferred Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital	$ 47,603
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	45,005,175
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Decrease for Tax Withholding Obligation	$ 2,161		$ 0				$ 2,161
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture	5,847	$ 5,846	$ 1				5,847
Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture			136,777
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation		2,161,000	(45,560)
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition		$ 513					513
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	6,785				$ 6,785
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	83,301			$ 83,301			83,301
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest					5,840
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	89,141
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value	(400)	(400)					(400)
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Increase for Cost Recognition	513
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(719)			(719)			(719)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares								71,241
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(16,919)						16,919	$ 3,758
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 3,758
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	45,096,392
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 451
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	71,241
Additional Paid in Capital	$ 259,412
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,079,619
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,383,327
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	16,364
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,399,691
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)						2,000
Preferred Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital	$ 47,603
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	45,096,392
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 0
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	44,498,097
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 445
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	0
Additional Paid in Capital	$ 244,653
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,332,714
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,625,415
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	28,039
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,653,454
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)						2,000
Preferred Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital	$ 47,603
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	44,498,097
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Decrease for Tax Withholding Obligation	$ 3,058	(3,058)					(3,058)
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture	$ 7,147	7,146	$ 1				7,147
Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture			147,278
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation	51,408
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	$ 969	969					969
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	11,500				11,500
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	75,059			75,059			75,059
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest					$ 5,997
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	81,056
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value	(3,018)	$ (3,018)					(3,018)
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(719)			$ (719)			(719)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares								282,821
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(3,758)						$ (3,758)	$ 16,919
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 16,919
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	44,593,967
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 446
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	282,821
Additional Paid in Capital	$ 252,728
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,407,054
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,690,912
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	22,536
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 1,713,448
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,000
Preferred Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital	$ 47,603
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	44,593,967