Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Nov. 04, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CalAtlantic Group, Inc.
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		121,017,696
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000878560
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3