Adjustment to self insurance reserves

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Incurred but not reported percentage of liability reserves

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum product warranty in years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Principal amount of mortgage loans Company sold in a residential mortgage backed securities transaction that is currently associated with a lawsuit in which the bank the Company sold the loans to has been named a defendant.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Surety Bonds Outstanding

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	phm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

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- Definition

Contractually required future rental payments receivable on noncancelable subleasing arrangements.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41502-112717

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- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions) of accrued known and estimated losses incurred as of the balance sheet date for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of a type of municipal bond typically used to fund a development project. Also called special assessment limited liability bond, special district bond, special purpose bond, special tax bond and community development obligation. Interest owed to lenders is paid by taxes levied on the community benefiting from the particular bond-funded project. For example, if a bond of this sort was issued to pay for sidewalks to be repaved in a certain community, an additional tax would be levied on homeowners in the area benefiting from this project.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Article 5

-Subsection 20, 22

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13, 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 claim	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 claim	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number	1,000			1,000
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)			$ 18,600,000			$ (49,000,000)
Adjustment to self insurance reserves	(15,200,000)phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves	84,500,000phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves		69,300,000phm_AdjustmentToSelfInsuranceReserves
Future minimum sublease rental income	5,300,000			5,300,000
Operating lease rent expense				25,300,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	23,000,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	24,200,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Accrued liabilities for outstanding community development district obligations	17,122,000us-gaap_SpecialAssessmentBond			17,122,000us-gaap_SpecialAssessmentBond	26,124,000us-gaap_SpecialAssessmentBond
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	212,100,000			212,100,000	183,100,000
Surety Bonds Outstanding	1,000,000,000phm_SuretyBondsOutstanding			1,000,000,000phm_SuretyBondsOutstanding	958,300,000phm_SuretyBondsOutstanding
Charges related to contractual dispute					41,200,000us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Maximum product warranty in years				10 years
Self-insurance liabilities	710,245,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve			710,245,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve	668,100,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve	721,284,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve	739,029,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve
Incurred but not reported percentage of liability reserves	72.00%			72.00%	78.00%
Residential mortgage backed securities known [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Residential mortgage-backed securities principal sold in previous period						162,000,000
Residential mortgage backed securities other [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Residential mortgage-backed securities principal sold in previous period	$ 116,000,000			$ 116,000,000