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

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Schedule of Fair Value of Fixed-Rate Debt (Details)

FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES - Schedule of Fair Value of Fixed-Rate Debt (Details) - Senior Notes [Member] - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 02, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010
4.50% senior notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal				$ 175,000,000
Fair Value Disclosures (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument, stated rate	4.50%		4.50%	4.50%
4.50% senior notes [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal	$ 175,000,000		$ 175,000,000
Fair value of fixed-rate debt
Estimated Fair Value	$ 175,000,000		$ 175,000,000
7.15% senior notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal							$ 200,000,000
Fair Value Disclosures (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument, stated rate	7.15%		7.15%				7.15%
7.15% senior notes [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal	$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Fair value of fixed-rate debt
Estimated Fair Value	$ 315,750,000		$ 322,500,000
7.00% senior notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal						$ 300,000,000
Fair Value Disclosures (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument, stated rate	7.00%		7.00%			7.00%
7.00% senior notes [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal	$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Fair value of fixed-rate debt
Estimated Fair Value	$ 313,500,000		$ 318,000,000
6.00% senior notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal		$ 200,000,000.0
Fair Value Disclosures (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument, stated rate	6.00%	6.00%	6.00%
6.00% senior notes [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal	$ 200,000,000
Fair value of fixed-rate debt
Estimated Fair Value	$ 197,500,000
1.875% convertible senior notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal					$ 126,500,000
Fair Value Disclosures (Textual) [Abstract]
Debt instrument, stated rate	1.875%		1.875%		1.875%
1.875% convertible senior notes [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate Principal	$ 126,500,000		$ 126,500,000
Fair value of fixed-rate debt
Estimated Fair Value	$ 124,128,000		$ 124,444,000