Inventory And Land Held For Sale Inventory and Land Held for Sale (Land-related Charges) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Land impairments			$ 8,617	$ 70,965	$ 88,952
Net realizable value adjustments (NRV) - land held for sale		$ 81,000	5,368	11,489	83,576
Impairment Losses Related to Real Estate Partnerships			0	0	8,018
Write-off of deposits and pre-acquisition costs	$ 9,600		13,116	16,992	11,367
Total land-related charges			$ 27,101	$ 99,446	$ 191,913

Charge against earnings in the period to reduce the current value of land held for sale to its fair value.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Write Off Of Deposits And Pre Acquisition Costs

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	phm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Impairment losses measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the business or real estate partnerships exceeds the fair value of the business or partnership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230

+ Details

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

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nonrecurring impairment charges related to the write-off of production-related equipment and inventory. This tag is used when an Entity charges this cost to cost of goods sold.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration