Supplemental Guarantor Information (Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Homebuilding
Home sale revenues	$ 899,763	$ 1,262,990	$ 1,682,234	$ 2,239,796
Land sale revenues	5,068	6,745	6,364	19,731
Real Estate Revenue, Net, Total	904,831	1,269,735	1,688,598	2,259,527
Financial Services	22,381	36,163	43,816	66,729
Total revenues	927,212	1,305,898	1,732,414	2,326,256
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Home sale cost of revenues	789,678	1,104,456	1,474,708	1,954,551
Land sale cost of revenues	3,787	2,563	4,717	11,561
Cost of Real Estate Revenue, Total	793,465	1,107,019	1,479,425	1,966,112
Financial Services expenses	39,053	44,772	59,526	69,883
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	138,380	157,415	280,826	318,721
Other expense (income), net	11,668	9,234	15,578	793
Interest income	(1,145)	(2,292)	(2,582)	(5,071)
Interest expense	317	1,018	668	1,500
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated entities	(1,193)	(5,542)	(2,302)	(5,448)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(53,333)	(5,726)	(98,725)	(20,234)
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,052	(82,029)	(3,814)	(84,049)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(55,385)	76,303	(94,911)	63,815
Net income (loss)	(55,385)	76,303	(94,911)	63,815
PulteGroup, Inc. [Member]
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Financial Services expenses	183	188	328	371
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	9,823	15,533	20,816	33,514
Other expense (income), net	3,496	(36)	3,537	(45)
Interest income	(88)		(88)
Interest expense	317	1,018	668	1,500
Intercompany interest	10,691	42,867	21,403	83,907
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated entities	(1)	(1)	(1)	(7)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(24,421)	(59,569)	(46,663)	(119,240)
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,065	13,480	358	3,341
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(25,486)	(73,049)	(47,021)	(122,581)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(29,899)	149,352	(47,890)	186,396
Net income (loss)	(55,385)	76,303	(94,911)	63,815
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding
Home sale revenues	899,763	1,262,990	1,682,234	2,239,796
Land sale revenues	5,068	6,745	6,364	19,731
Real Estate Revenue, Net, Total	904,831	1,269,735	1,688,598	2,259,527
Financial Services	286	1,097	569	2,019
Total revenues	905,117	1,270,832	1,689,167	2,261,546
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Home sale cost of revenues	789,678	1,104,456	1,474,708	1,954,551
Land sale cost of revenues	3,787	2,563	4,717	11,561
Cost of Real Estate Revenue, Total	793,465	1,107,019	1,479,425	1,966,112
Financial Services expenses	55	(2,782)	201	(2,029)
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	126,996	131,988	256,289	264,277
Other expense (income), net	8,749	11,081	13,492	4,970
Interest income	(976)	(2,176)	(2,303)	(4,846)
Intercompany interest	(8,088)	(42,937)	(16,732)	(83,977)
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated entities	(1,174)	(5,756)	(2,223)	(5,390)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(13,910)	74,395	(38,982)	122,429
Income tax expense (benefit)	2,118	(92,996)	(3,683)	(83,925)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(16,028)	167,391	(35,299)	206,354
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(13,004)	(10,643)	(11,444)	(5,429)
Net income (loss)	(29,032)	156,748	(46,743)	200,925
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding
Financial Services	22,095	35,066	43,247	64,710
Total revenues	22,095	35,066	43,247	64,710
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Financial Services expenses	38,815	47,366	58,997	71,541
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	1,561	9,894	3,721	20,930
Other expense (income), net	(577)	(1,811)	(1,451)	(4,132)
Interest income	(81)	(116)	(191)	(225)
Intercompany interest	(2,603)	70	(4,671)	70
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated entities	(18)	215	(78)	(51)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(15,002)	(20,552)	(13,080)	(23,423)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,131)	(2,513)	(489)	(3,465)
Income (loss) before equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(13,871)	(18,039)	(12,591)	(19,958)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	(53,921)	137,487	(121,232)	174,102
Net income (loss)	(67,792)	119,448	(133,823)	154,144
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Homebuilding Cost of Revenues:
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries	96,824	(276,196)	180,566	(355,069)
Net income (loss)	$ 96,824	$ (276,196)	$ 180,566	$ (355,069)