Note 19 - Supplemental Condensed Combining Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
MDC Holdings [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	$ (12,102,000)	$ (8,922,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries	17,370,000	12,992,000
Financial services interest and other income	1,386,000	1,574,000
Homebuilding other expense	(916,000)	$ (13,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(431,000)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ 5,307,000	$ 5,717,000
Homebuilding interest expensed		$ 86,000
MDC Holdings [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
MDC Holdings [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ 5,307,000	$ 5,717,000
Provision for income taxes	4,256,000	2,703,000
Net income	9,563,000	8,420,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	1,948,000	1,308,000
Comprehensive income	11,511,000	9,728,000
Comprehensive income	(11,511,000)	(9,728,000)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues	396,744,000	377,919,000
Home and land cost of sales	$ (331,389,000)	(319,767,000)
Inventory impairments		(350,000)
Total cost of sales	$ (331,389,000)	(320,117,000)
Gross margin	65,355,000	57,802,000
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	$ (44,016,000)	$ (41,457,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Financial services interest and other income	$ 729,000	$ 281,000
Homebuilding other expense	$ (625,000)	$ (1,132,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ 21,443,000	$ 15,494,000
Homebuilding interest expensed
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ 21,443,000	$ 15,494,000
Provision for income taxes	(7,076,000)	(5,704,000)
Net income	$ 14,367,000	$ 9,790,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax
Comprehensive income	$ 14,367,000	$ 9,790,000
Comprehensive income	$ (14,367,000)	$ (9,790,000)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales	$ (300,000)
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales	$ (300,000)
Gross margin	$ (300,000)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
Equity income of subsidiaries
Financial services interest and other income	$ 1,000	$ 5,000
Homebuilding other expense
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ (299,000)	$ 5,000
Homebuilding interest expensed
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	5,192,000	$ 5,102,000
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	4,893,000	5,107,000
Provision for income taxes	(1,890,000)	(1,905,000)
Net income	3,003,000	3,202,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	(1,000)	259,000
Comprehensive income	3,002,000	3,461,000
Comprehensive income	$ (3,002,000)	$ (3,461,000)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues
Home and land cost of sales
Inventory impairments
Total cost of sales
Gross margin
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	$ (159,000)	$ (153,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries	(17,370,000)	(12,992,000)
Financial services interest and other income	$ (266,000)	$ 5,000
Homebuilding other expense
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ (17,795,000)	$ (13,226,000)
Homebuilding interest expensed		(86,000)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	425,000	234,000
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ (17,370,000)	$ (12,992,000)
Provision for income taxes
Net income	$ (17,370,000)	$ (12,992,000)
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	1,000	(259,000)
Comprehensive income	(17,369,000)	(13,251,000)
Comprehensive income	17,369,000	13,251,000
Homebuilding [Member]
Revenues	396,744,000	377,919,000
Home and land cost of sales	$ (331,689,000)	(319,767,000)
Inventory impairments		(350,000)
Total cost of sales	$ (331,689,000)	(320,117,000)
Gross margin	65,055,000	57,802,000
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	$ (56,277,000)	$ (50,532,000)
Equity income of subsidiaries
Financial services interest and other income	$ 1,850,000	$ 1,865,000
Homebuilding other expense	(1,541,000)	$ (1,145,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	(431,000)
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	8,656,000	$ 7,990,000
Homebuilding interest expensed
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	$ 5,617,000	$ 5,336,000
Inventory impairments		(350,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment of marketable securities	$ (431,000)	0
Homebuilding pretax income (loss)	14,273,000	13,326,000
Provision for income taxes	(4,710,000)	(4,906,000)
Net income	9,563,000	8,420,000
Other comprehensive income related to available for sale securities, net of tax	1,948,000	1,308,000
Comprehensive income	$ 11,511,000	$ 9,728,000
Homebuilding interest expensed
Comprehensive income	$ (11,511,000)	$ (9,728,000)