Debt Covenant, Additional Issuance of Letters of Credit Maximum

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
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+ Details

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

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the credit facility first became available, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInitiationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of long-term notes payable classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

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- Details

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=phm_SeniorUnsecuredTermLoanMaturingJanuary32027MemberDomain
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Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 22, 2018	Jul. 29, 2016
Debt Instrument
Notes payable		$ 2,711,659,000	$ 2,986,753,000
Loss on debt retirements		4,927,000	76,000	$ 0
Repayments of Long-term Debt		309,985,000	82,775,000	$ 134,747,000
Repurchased face amount		274,000,000.0
Other Notes Payable		$ 53,381,000	41,313,000
Debt Instrument, Term		3 years
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		$ 262,800,000	239,400,000
Unused credit lines		737,200,000	760,600,000
Financial Services debt		$ 326,573,000	348,412,000
Maximum
Debt Instrument
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		8.00%
Unsecured Letter Of Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		$ 262,800,000	239,400,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument
Short-term debt covenant description		500,000,000.0
Line of Credit, Current		$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date		Jun. 22, 2018
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date		Jun. 22, 2023
Revolving Credit Facility Accordion Feature [Member]
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity					$ 1,500,000,000
Financial Services [Member]
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 375,000,000	520,000,000
Unused credit lines		48,427,000	171,588,000
Financial Services [Member] \| Unsecured Letter Of Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	Aug. 02, 2019
Financial Services [Member] \| Repurchase Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity		375,000,000.0			$ 1,000,000,000.0
Financial Services debt		326,600,000	$ 348,400,000
Financial Services [Member] \| Repurchase Agreement [Member] \| Minimum
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity		220,000,000.0
Financial Services [Member] \| Repurchase Agreement [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity		270,000,000.0
4.250% unsecured senior notes due March 2021 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			4.25%			4.25%
5.500% unsecured senior notes due March 2026 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			5.50%			5.50%
Senior Notes [Member] \| 5.500% unsecured senior notes due March 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument
Notes payable		700,000,000	$ 700,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Unsecured Term Loan Maturing January 3, 2027 [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			5.00%			5.00%
Notes payable		$ 600,000,000	$ 600,000,000