Amount of self insurance.

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- Definition

Annual insurance limit maximum.

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- Definition

Annual insurance limit minimum.

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- Definition

The amount of cash restricted at the end of a period to serve as collateral for outstanding letters of credit.

+ Details

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- Definition

Commitments and Contingencies.

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- Definition

Deductible policy amount per occurrence.

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Deposits.

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- Definition

Land and lot option purchase contracts remaining purchase obligation subject to specific performance clauses.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Maximum amount deductible under workers compensation insurance policy.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The aggregate expense to date charged against earnings related to the remediation of homes containing Chinese drywall.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The liability as of the balance sheet date related to the remediation of homes containing Chinese drywall.

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Namespace Prefix:	dhi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Reinsurance coverage acquired by captive insurance subsidiary.

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- Definition

Description regarding the aggregate and per occurrence limits related to the self-insured portion of our coverage.

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- Definition

The balance of surety bonds at the end of the period.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

The remaining purchase price of land under option contracts, which represents the unrecorded conditional purchase obligation as of the balance sheet date.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

The carrying amount of the asset transferred to a third party to serve as a deposit, which typically serves as security against failure by the transferor to perform under terms of an agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 17

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

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-Article 5

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Describes nature and related effect on financial statements related to corrections of prior year errors in the current year financial statements when the effect of the prior year error was immaterial to the prior year financial statements and the current year correction is immaterial to the current year financial statements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 250

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 1.M)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6369664&loc=d3e30365-122693

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 1

-Section M

-Subsection 1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 1

-Section N

-Paragraph Question 2

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 250

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6801783&loc=d3e22644-107794

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- Definition

Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

This element represents the expenses incurred by the entity which are directly related and attributable to receiving an award in settlement of litigation.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

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- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41499-112717

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2012
Deposits [Line Items]
Land option contract deposits	$ 14.6
Commitments and Contingencies (Textuals) [Abstract]
Out of period adjustment effect	5.3
Remaining purchase price of land under option contracts	918.7
Land and lot option purchase contracts remaining purchase obligation subject to specific performance clauses	8.2
Outstanding letters of credit	46.9
Surety bonds	689.2
Cash collateral on letters of credit	47.5	52.6
Rent expense	20.6	24.9	34.3
Amount of self insurance	22.5
Annual Insurance Limit Minimum	0.25
Annual insurance limit maximum	1.0
Self-insurance limits	15.0			0.5
Maximum amount deductible under workers compensation insurance policy	0.5
Reinsurance coverage acquired by captive insurance subsidiary	15.0
Deductible policy amount per occurrence	0.5
Cash deposits [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Land option contract deposits	12.7
Promissory notes and surety bonds [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Land option contract deposits	1.9
Homebuilding [Member]
Deposits [Line Items]
Liability related to homes containing Chinese drywall	0.8
Cost to remediate homes containing Chinese drywall	6.4
Liabilities for various claims, complaints and other legal actions	529.6	571.3
Estimated insurance recoveries related to legal claims	218.3	251.5
Expenses related to legal claims	$ 28.1	$ 43.2	$ 58.3