Statement of Shareholders' Equity (Statement) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interest	Treasury Stock, Common	Parent
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	45,005,175
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 450
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,000
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	0
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 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
Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture	639,079
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition							$ 1,865
Dividends	$ (2,156)			$ (2,156)			(2,156)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(48,035)						(48,035)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares			860,659			860,659
Treasury Stock, Retired, Cost Method, Amount		$ (4,865)		(43,161)		$ (48,035)
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value	3,924	3,924					3,924
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	277,770			277,770			277,770
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest					$ 18,781
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	296,551
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture	$ (5,850)	(5,843)	$ (7)				(5,850)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation	(285,347)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Decrease for Tax Withholding Obligation	$ (11,337)	11,334	3				(11,337)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	(860,659)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value			$ (9)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	$ (11,785)				(11,785)
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Increase for Cost Recognition	$ 1,865	1,865
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	44,897,775
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 449
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,000
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	(303,324)
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 17,192
Additional paid-in capital	246,863
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,161,512
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,439,235
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	24,518
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,463,753
Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture			2,302
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	572	572					572
Dividends	(719)			(719)			(719)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(5,445)					$ (5,445)	(5,445)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares			401,003			401,003
Treasury Stock, Retired, Cost Method, Amount	0	(2,219)	$ (4)	(20,414)		$ (22,637)	0
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value	(1,958)	(1,958)					(1,958)
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	89,111			89,111			89,111
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest					4,787
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	93,898
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture	0	0	$ 0				0
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation			(826)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Decrease for Tax Withholding Obligation	(59)	(59)	$ 0				59
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares						(97,679)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	$ (5,000)				(5,000)
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	44,498,248
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 445
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,000
Preferred Stock, Value, Outstanding	$ 47,603
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	0
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 0
Additional paid-in capital	243,199
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,229,490
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,520,737
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	24,305
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 1,545,042
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	44,498,097
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 445
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,000
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	0
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 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
Shares Issued, Shares, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture			147,278
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	3,702	3,702					3,702
Dividends	(2,156)			(2,156)			(2,156)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	(60,802)			(66)		$ (60,736)	(60,802)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares			1,027,678			1,027,678
Treasury Stock, Retired, Cost Method, Amount	0	(5,836)		(54,890)		$ (60,736)
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value	874	874					874
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	234,860			234,860			234,860
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest					16,057
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	250,917
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture	(7,077)	(7,075)	$ (2)				(7,077)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation			(52,599)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Decrease for Tax Withholding Obligation	(3,060)	(3,059)	$ 1				(3,060)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares						(1,027,678)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value			$ (10)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	$ (16,624)				(16,624)
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	43,565,098
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 436
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,000
Additional paid-in capital	$ 244,006
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,433,328
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,725,373
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	23,562
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,748,935
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	1,344	1,344					1,344
Dividends	(719)			(719)			(719)
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value	311	$ 311					311
Net income attributable to Green Brick Partners, Inc.	77,853			$ 77,853			$ 77,853
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest					$ 3,910
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	$ 81,763
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	43,565,098
Common Stock, Value, Issued	$ 436
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	2,000
Preferred Stock, Value, Outstanding	$ 47,603
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares	0
Treasury Stock, Value	$ 0
Additional paid-in capital	245,661
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,510,462
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	1,804,162
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	27,472
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 1,831,634