Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Homebuilding:
Gross profit	$ 160.0	$ 151.3	$ 104.8	$ 110.2	$ 127.8	$ 206.8	$ 159.2	$ 188.3
Loss (gain) on early retirement of debt, net									10.8	4.9	(3.9)
Income (loss) before income taxes	33.8	28.9	(30.8)	(19.9)	(1.7)	46.3	12.1	42.8	12.1	99.5	(556.8)
Financial Services:
Income tax benefit	(1.9)	0.2	(58.6)	0.5	7.2	(4.2)	0.7	(149.2)	(59.7)	(145.6)	(7.0)
Net income (loss)	35.7	28.7	27.8	(20.4)	(8.9)	50.5	11.4	192.0	71.8	245.1	(549.8)
Homebuilding [Member] | D.R Horton, Inc. [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues									1,021.4	1,103.3	828.7
Cost of sales									840.1	888.0	889.2
Gross profit									181.3	215.3	(60.5)
Selling, general and administrative expense									209.3	206.4	209.7
Equity in (income) of subsidiaries									(98.2)	(177.9)	192.2
Interest expense									50.5	86.3	100.2
Loss (gain) on early retirement of debt, net									10.8	4.9	(3.9)
Other (income)									(3.2)	(3.9)	(1.9)
Income (loss) before income taxes									12.1	99.5	(556.8)
Financial Services:
Interest expense									50.5	86.3	100.2
D.R Horton, Inc. [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income (loss) before income taxes									12.1	99.5	(556.8)
Financial Services:
Income tax benefit									(59.7)	(145.6)	(7.0)
Net income (loss)									71.8	245.1	(549.8)
Homebuilding [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues									2,516.4	3,199.8	2,754.7
Cost of sales									2,169.3	2,736.5	2,615.5
Gross profit									347.1	463.3	139.2
Selling, general and administrative expense									270.1	309.2	306.9
Other (income)									(1.1)	(2.7)	(2.4)
Income (loss) before income taxes									78.1	156.8	(165.3)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income (loss) before income taxes									78.1	156.8	(165.3)
Financial Services:
Income tax benefit									(41.4)	(109.7)	(5.3)
Net income (loss)									119.5	266.5	(160.0)
Homebuilding [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues									11.8	6.6	20.5
Cost of sales									13.9	3.1	34.0
Gross profit									(2.1)	3.5	(13.5)
Selling, general and administrative expense									0.6	7.6	6.4
Other (income)									(3.7)	(3.8)	(8.5)
Income (loss) before income taxes									1.0	(0.3)	(11.4)
Financial Services [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Interest expense									1.4	1.9	1.5
Income (loss) before income taxes									19.1	21.4	(15.5)
Financial Services:
Revenues, net of recourse and reinsurance expense									87.2	90.5	53.7
General and administrative expense									76.3	77.2	78.1
Interest expense									1.4	1.9	1.5
Interest and other (income)									(9.6)	(10.0)	(10.4)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income (loss) before income taxes									20.1	21.1	(26.9)
Financial Services:
Income tax benefit									(1.5)	(2.9)	(0.1)
Net income (loss)									21.6	24.0	(26.8)
Homebuilding [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding:
Equity in (income) of subsidiaries									98.2	177.9	(192.2)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(98.2)	(177.9)	192.2
Eliminations [Member]
Homebuilding:
Income (loss) before income taxes									(98.2)	(177.9)	192.2
Financial Services:
Income tax benefit									42.9	112.6	5.4
Net income (loss)									(141.1)	(290.5)	186.8
Homebuilding [Member]
Homebuilding:
Revenues									3,549.6	4,309.7	3,603.9
Cost of sales									3,023.3	3,627.6	3,538.7
Gross profit									526.3	682.1	65.2
Selling, general and administrative expense									480.0	523.2	523.0
Interest expense									50.5	86.3	100.2
Loss (gain) on early retirement of debt, net									10.8	4.9	(3.9)
Other (income)									(8.0)	(10.4)	(12.8)
Income (loss) before income taxes									(7.0)	78.1	(541.3)
Financial Services:
Interest expense									50.5	86.3	100.2
Financial Services [Member]
Homebuilding:
Interest expense									1.4	1.9	1.5
Income (loss) before income taxes									19.1	21.4	(15.5)
Financial Services:
Revenues, net of recourse and reinsurance expense									87.2	90.5	53.7
General and administrative expense									76.3	77.2	78.1
Interest expense									1.4	1.9	1.5
Interest and other (income)									$ (9.6)	$ (10.0)	$ (10.4)