Additional Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Textuals Abstract.

Name:	kbh_AdditionalInvestmentsInUnconsolidatedJointVenturesTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Annual appreciation on average selling price for homes.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_AnnualAppreciationAverageSellingPriceForHomes
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Anticipated land to be acquired owned by unconsolidated joint venture in acres.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_AnticipatedLandToBeAcquiredOwnedByUnconsolidatedJointVentureInAcres
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Appreciation on cost for development work.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_AppreciationOnCostForDevelopmentWork
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Appreciation on home construction cost.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_AppreciationOnHomeConstructionCost
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity Method Investments Debt Outstanding.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_EquityMethodInvestmentsDebtOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Estimated fair value of share of unconsolidated joint venture land.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_EstimatedFairValueOfShareOfUnconsolidatedJointVentureLand
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair Value Estimation Assumption Expected Life of Project.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_FairValueEstimationAssumptionExpectedLifeOfProject
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_InvestmentsInUnconsolidatedJointVenturesTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss on loan guaranty.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_LossOnLoanGuaranty
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net Payment Obligation.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_NetPaymentObligation
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Noncash impairment charges included in Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_NoncashImpairmentChargesIncludedInEquityInLossOfUnconsolidatedJointVentures
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of days in which involuntary bankruptcy proceeding can be dismissed.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_NumberOfDaysInWhichInvoluntaryBankruptcyProceedingCanBeDismissed
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Potential Maximum Additional Expense On Unrealized Value Of Share Of Unconsolidated Joint Venture Land.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_PotentialMaximumAdditionalExpenseOnUnrealizedValueOfShareOfUnconsolidatedJointVentureLand
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Potential Minimum Additional Expense On Unrealized Value Of Share Of Unconsolidated Joint Venture Land.

+ Details

Name:	kbh_PotentialMinimumAdditionalExpenseOnUnrealizedValueOfShareOfUnconsolidatedJointVentureLand
Namespace Prefix:	kbh
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents an other than temporary decline in value that has been recognized against an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the investment represents the amount of the write down which is or was reflected in earnings. The written down value is a new cost basis with the adjusted value of the investment becoming its new carrying value subject to the equity accounting method. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity which would justify the carrying amount of the investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 19
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 32
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903645&loc=d3e32787-111569

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Nov. 30, 2010
Additional Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Textuals)
Aggregate outstanding secured debt	$ 327,900,000			$ 327,900,000		$ 327,900,000
Net Payment Obligation	226,400,000			226,400,000
Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Textuals) [Abstract]
Recognition charges on payment obligation		14,600,000	22,800,000	37,330,000	0
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures including pretax, noncash impairment charges				53,700,000
Number of days in which involuntary bankruptcy proceeding can be dismissed				60 days
Aggregate outstanding secured debt	327,900,000			327,900,000		327,900,000
Impairment charges	0
Anticipated Land To Be Acquired Owned By Unconsolidated Joint Venture In Acres				600
Annual appreciation on average selling price for homes				5.00%
Fair Value Estimation Assumption Expected Life of Project				15 years
Appreciation on cost for development work				10.00%
Appreciation on home construction cost				1.00%
Potential minimum additional expense on unrealized value of share of south edge land				0
Potential maximum additional expense on unrealized value of share of south edge land				75,000,000
South Edge [Member]
Additional Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Textuals)
Aggregate outstanding secured debt	327,856,000			327,856,000		327,856,000
Estimated fair value of share of South Edge Land	75,200,000			75,200,000
Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Textuals) [Abstract]
Aggregate outstanding secured debt	$ 327,856,000			$ 327,856,000		$ 327,856,000