Supplemental Guarantor Information (Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Homebuilding
Home sale revenues	$ 1,585,421	$ 1,394,243
Land sale revenues	1,640	2,487
Total homebuilding revenues	1,587,061	1,396,730
Financial Services	41,767	35,848
Consolidated revenues	1,628,828	1,432,578
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Home sale cost of revenues	(1,217,678)	(1,038,028)
Land sale cost of revenues	(3,228)	(2,028)
Total cost of revenues	(1,220,906)	(1,040,056)
Financial Services expenses	(28,367)	(26,119)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	(236,268)	(242,316)
Other expense, net	4,022	5,874
Intercompany interest	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	139,265	118,213
Income tax (expense) benefit	(47,747)	(34,913)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	91,518	83,300
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0
Net income	91,518	83,300
Other comprehensive income	21	21
Comprehensive income (loss)	91,539	83,321
PulteGroup, Inc.
Homebuilding
Home sale revenues	0	0
Land sale revenues	0	0
Total homebuilding revenues	0	0
Financial Services	0	0
Consolidated revenues	0	0
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Home sale cost of revenues	0	0
Land sale cost of revenues	0	0
Total cost of revenues	0	0
Financial Services expenses	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	0	0
Other expense, net	(130)	(170)
Intercompany interest	(335)	(510)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(465)	(680)
Income tax (expense) benefit	177	263
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(288)	(417)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	91,806	83,717
Net income	91,518	83,300
Other comprehensive income	21	21
Comprehensive income (loss)	91,539	83,321
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Homebuilding
Home sale revenues	1,576,645	1,393,259
Land sale revenues	867	2,010
Total homebuilding revenues	1,577,512	1,395,269
Financial Services	0	0
Consolidated revenues	1,577,512	1,395,269
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Home sale cost of revenues	1,209,640	(1,035,864)
Land sale cost of revenues	2,595	(1,643)
Total cost of revenues	1,212,235	(1,037,507)
Financial Services expenses	139	(123)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	217,975	(238,882)
Other expense, net	(11,843)	(9,676)
Intercompany interest	0	(2,184)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	135,320	106,897
Income tax (expense) benefit	(45,925)	(30,568)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	89,395	76,329
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	7,253	7,010
Net income	96,648	83,339
Other comprehensive income	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	96,648	83,339
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Homebuilding
Home sale revenues	8,776	984
Land sale revenues	773	477
Total homebuilding revenues	9,549	1,461
Financial Services	41,767	35,848
Consolidated revenues	51,316	37,309
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Home sale cost of revenues	8,038	(2,164)
Land sale cost of revenues	633	(385)
Total cost of revenues	8,671	(2,549)
Financial Services expenses	28,228	(25,996)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	18,293	(3,434)
Other expense, net	7,951	3,972
Intercompany interest	335	2,694
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	4,410	11,996
Income tax (expense) benefit	(1,999)	(4,608)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	2,411	7,388
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	37,309	111,918
Net income	39,720	119,306
Other comprehensive income	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	39,720	119,306
Eliminating Entries
Homebuilding
Home sale revenues	0	0
Land sale revenues	0	0
Total homebuilding revenues	0	0
Financial Services	0	0
Consolidated revenues	0	0
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Home sale cost of revenues	0	0
Land sale cost of revenues	0	0
Total cost of revenues	0	0
Financial Services expenses	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	0	0
Other expense, net	0	0
Intercompany interest	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(136,368)	(202,645)
Net income	(136,368)	(202,645)
Other comprehensive income	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (136,368)	$ (202,645)