Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2008
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 732.6	$ 1,309.3	$ 1,957.3	$ 1,387.3
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	297.6	297.7
Restricted cash	49.1	53.7
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Income taxes receivable	12.4	16.0
Property and equipment, net	57.6	60.5
Other assets	449.4	482.7
Mortgage loans held for sale	294.1	253.8
Goodwill	15.9	15.9
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Total assets	5,358.4	5,938.6
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,030.3	1,143.9
Intercompany payables	0	0
Notes payable	1,704.6	2,171.8
Total liabilities	2,734.9	3,315.7
Total stockholders' equity	2,620.6	2,613.2
Noncontrolling interests	2.9	9.7
Total equity	2,623.5	2,622.9	2,400.6	2,864.8
Total liabilities and equity	5,358.4	5,938.6
Homebuilding [Member] | D.R Horton, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Inventories	1,100.6	1,081.7
Financial Services [Member] | D.R Horton, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
D.R Horton, Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	681.3	1,234.9	1,871.2	1,261.5
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	297.6	297.7
Restricted cash	48.7	53.3
Investments in subsidiaries	1,452.3	1,316.7
Income taxes receivable	12.4	16.0
Property and equipment, net	18.0	18.5
Other assets	98.7	101.1
Goodwill	0	0
Intercompany receivables	748.3	904.6
Total assets	4,457.9	5,024.5
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	252.3	327.9
Intercompany payables	0	0
Notes payable	1,585.0	2,083.4
Total liabilities	1,837.3	2,411.3
Total stockholders' equity	2,620.6	2,613.2
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	2,620.6	2,613.2
Total liabilities and equity	4,457.9	5,024.5
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Inventories	2,329.6	2,340.1
Financial Services [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	31.3	45.3	48.3	90.1
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	0	0
Restricted cash	0.4	0.4
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Income taxes receivable	0	0
Property and equipment, net	21.7	23.3
Other assets	259.2	292.8
Goodwill	15.9	15.9
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Total assets	2,658.1	2,717.8
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	662.7	688.3
Intercompany payables	717.6	871.4
Notes payable	3.1	1.9
Total liabilities	1,383.4	1,561.6
Total stockholders' equity	1,274.7	1,156.2
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	1,274.7	1,156.2
Total liabilities and equity	2,658.1	2,717.8
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Inventories	19.5	27.2
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Mortgage loans held for sale	294.1	253.8
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	20.0	29.1	37.8	35.7
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Income taxes receivable	0	0
Property and equipment, net	17.9	18.7
Other assets	91.5	88.8
Goodwill	0	0
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Total assets	443.0	417.6
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	115.3	127.7
Intercompany payables	30.7	33.2
Notes payable	116.5	86.5
Total liabilities	262.5	247.4
Total stockholders' equity	177.6	160.5
Noncontrolling interests	2.9	9.7
Total equity	180.5	170.2
Total liabilities and equity	443.0	417.6
Homebuilding [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Inventories	0	0
Financial Services [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Mortgage loans held for sale	0	0
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(1,452.3)	(1,316.7)
Income taxes receivable	0	0
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Other assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(748.3)	(904.6)
Total assets	(2,200.6)	(2,221.3)
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(748.3)	(904.6)
Notes payable	0	0
Total liabilities	(748.3)	(904.6)
Total stockholders' equity	(1,452.3)	(1,316.7)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	(1,452.3)	(1,316.7)
Total liabilities and equity	(2,200.6)	(2,221.3)
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	715.5	1,282.6
Marketable securities, available-for-sale	297.6	297.7
Restricted cash	49.1	53.7
Inventories	3,449.7	3,449.0
Income taxes receivable	12.4	16.0
Property and equipment, net	57.6	60.5
Other assets	398.4	434.8
Goodwill	15.9	15.9
Total assets	4,996.2	5,610.2
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Notes payable	1,588.1	2,085.3
Total liabilities	2,571.9	3,177.6
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	17.1	26.7
Other assets	51.0	47.9
Mortgage loans held for sale	294.1	253.8
Total assets	362.2	328.4
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Total liabilities	$ 163.0	$ 138.1