Meritage Homes Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Acquisitions and Goodwill Details Textual (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 01, 2013	Aug. 01, 2014
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	$ 22,715,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	$ 10,247,000us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Cash paid for acquisitions	130,677,000	18,624,000	0
Goodwill	32,962,000us-gaap_Goodwill	10,247,000us-gaap_Goodwill	0us-gaap_Goodwill
East [Member]
Goodwill	32,962,000	10,247,000	0
Nashville Acquisition [Member]
Cash paid for acquisitions		18,600,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory				8,400,000
Nashville Acquisition [Member] \| East [Member]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period		10,247,000
Legendary Communities Acquisition [Member]
Cash paid for acquisitions	130,677,000
Business Acquisition Estimated Earn Out					10,000,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory					108,000,000
Legendary Communities Acquisition [Member] \| East [Member]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	$ 22,715,000