Adjustment to self insurance reserves

No definition available.

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- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

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- Definition

Revenue related to the sale of homes and home building activities including design, development, general contracting, and renovation services for residential buildings, including single-family houses, multifamily housing, townhouses, apartments, and modular housing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Amount of litigation expense, including but not limited to legal, forensic, accounting, and investigative fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

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- Details

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Segment Information Narrative (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
Segment Information Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 segment	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information
Home sale revenues				$ 5,662,171,000us-gaap_HomeBuildingRevenue	$ 5,424,309,000us-gaap_HomeBuildingRevenue	$ 4,552,412,000us-gaap_HomeBuildingRevenue
Number of reportable segments				6us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments
Loss on debt retirements			8,584,000	8,584,000	26,930,000	32,071,000
Adjustment to self insurance reserves	(15,200,000)phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves	84,500,000phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves		69,300,000phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves
Charges related to contractual dispute					41,200,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Detached single-family homes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Home sale revenues				4,800,000,000	4,500,000,000	3,600,000,000
Attached homes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Home sale revenues				885,800,000	939,000,000	925,400,000
Home Office Relocation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Costs associated with the relocation of corporate headquarters				$ 16,300,000	$ 15,400,000