Supplemental Guarantor Information (Statement Of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 252,479	$ (306,506)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(23,548)	(30,551)
Cash used for business acquisition	0	(430,458)
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	(22,007)	(14,049)
Other investing activities, net	5,788	5,473
Net cash used in investing activities	(39,767)	(469,585)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Financial Services borrowings (repayments)	(85,797)	(109,083)
Proceeds from debt issuance	0	1,995,961
Repayments of debt	(7,001)	(985,734)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	971,000	619,000
Repayments under revolving credit facility	(888,000)	(619,000)
Stock option exercises	22,765	5,845
Share repurchases	(665,812)	(350,846)
Dividends paid	(86,018)	(94,298)
Intercompany activities, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(738,863)	461,845
Net increase (decrease)	(526,151)	(314,246)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	723,248	775,435
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	197,097	461,189
Eliminating Entries
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	0	0
Cash used for business acquisition		0
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Financial Services borrowings (repayments)	0	0
Proceeds from debt issuance	0	0
Repayments of debt	0	0
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	0	0
Repayments under revolving credit facility	0	0
Stock option exercises	0	0
Share repurchases	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Intercompany activities, net	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0
Net increase (decrease)	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	0	0
PulteGroup, Inc.
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	58,575	159,366
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	0	0
Cash used for business acquisition		0
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities:
Financial Services borrowings (repayments)	0	0
Proceeds from debt issuance	0	1,991,961
Repayments of debt	0	(965,245)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	971,000	619,000
Repayments under revolving credit facility	(888,000)	(619,000)
Stock option exercises	22,765	5,845
Share repurchases	(665,812)	(350,846)
Dividends paid	(86,018)	(94,298)
Intercompany activities, net	587,490	(746,783)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(58,575)	(159,366)
Net increase (decrease)	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	43,042	(562,165)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(19,693)	(28,243)
Cash used for business acquisition		(430,458)
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	(22,007)	(14,049)
Other investing activities, net	5,728	3,913
Net cash used in investing activities	(35,972)	(468,837)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Financial Services borrowings (repayments)	0	0
Proceeds from debt issuance	0	4,000
Repayments of debt	(6,031)	(20,394)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	0	0
Repayments under revolving credit facility	0	0
Stock option exercises	0	0
Share repurchases	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Intercompany activities, net	(470,052)	788,043
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(476,083)	771,649
Net increase (decrease)	(469,013)	(259,353)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	611,185	658,876
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	142,172	399,523
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	150,862	96,293
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(3,855)	(2,308)
Cash used for business acquisition		0
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other investing activities, net	60	1,560
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,795)	(748)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Financial Services borrowings (repayments)	(85,797)	(109,083)
Proceeds from debt issuance	0	0
Repayments of debt	(970)	(95)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	0	0
Repayments under revolving credit facility	0	0
Stock option exercises	0	0
Share repurchases	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0
Intercompany activities, net	(117,438)	(41,260)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(204,205)	(150,438)
Net increase (decrease)	(57,138)	(54,893)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	112,063	116,559
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$ 54,925	$ 61,666