Meritage Homes Corporation Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Senior, Senior Subordinated, Convertible Senior Notes (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Components of senior and senior subordinated notes
Senior, senior subordinated, convertible senior notes	$ 881,219,000	$ 722,797,000
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	0
7.731% senior subordinated notes due 2017 [Member]
Components of senior and senior subordinated notes
Senior, senior subordinated, convertible senior notes	83,125,000	99,825,000
4.50% senior notes due two thousand eighteen [Member]
Components of senior and senior subordinated notes
Senior, senior subordinated, convertible senior notes	175,000,000	0
7.15% senior notes due 2020 [Member]
Components of senior and senior subordinated notes
Senior, senior subordinated, convertible senior notes	196,594,000	196,472,000
7.00% senior notes due 2022 [Member]
Components of senior and senior subordinated notes
Senior, senior subordinated, convertible senior notes	300,000,000	300,000,000
1.875% convertible senior notes due 2032 [Member]
Components of senior and senior subordinated notes
Senior, senior subordinated, convertible senior notes	126,500,000	126,500,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Components of senior and senior subordinated notes
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 0	$ 0