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Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Letter of credit and surety bond obligations |  |
Surety Bonds, Outstanding | $ 230,166 mth_SuretiesOutstanding | $ 191,829 mth_SuretiesOutstanding
Surety bonds, Estimated work remaining to complete | 93,754 mth_SuretiesRelatedToUncompletedContracts | 86,202 mth_SuretiesRelatedToUncompletedContracts
Letters of Credit ("LOCs"): |  |
Letters of Credit (LOC's) | 19,489 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount | 42,068 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Sureties related to joint ventures [Member] |  |
Letter of credit and surety bond obligations |  |
Surety Bonds, Outstanding | 87 mth_SuretiesOutstanding / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToJointVenturesMember | 87 mth_SuretiesOutstanding / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToJointVenturesMember
Surety bonds, Estimated work remaining to complete | 87 mth_SuretiesRelatedToUncompletedContracts / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToJointVenturesMember | 87 mth_SuretiesRelatedToUncompletedContracts / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToJointVenturesMember
Sureties related to owned projects and lots under contract [Member] |  |
Letter of credit and surety bond obligations |  |
Surety Bonds, Outstanding | 230,079 mth_SuretiesOutstanding / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToOwnedProjectsAndLotsUnderContractMember | 191,742 mth_SuretiesOutstanding / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToOwnedProjectsAndLotsUnderContractMember
Surety bonds, Estimated work remaining to complete | 93,667 mth_SuretiesRelatedToUncompletedContracts / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToOwnedProjectsAndLotsUnderContractMember | 86,115 mth_SuretiesRelatedToUncompletedContracts / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_SuretiesRelatedToOwnedProjectsAndLotsUnderContractMember
Letter of Credit in lieu of deposit for contracted lots [Member] |  |
Letters of Credit ("LOCs"): |  |
Letters of Credit (LOC's) | 1,200 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_LetterofCreditinlieuofdepositforcontractedlotsMemberDomain | 1,685 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_LetterofCreditinlieuofdepositforcontractedlotsMemberDomain
LOCs for land development [Member] |  |
Letters of Credit ("LOCs"): |  |
Letters of Credit (LOC's) | 13,789 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_LetterOfCreditForLandDevelopmentMember | 35,883 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_LetterOfCreditForLandDevelopmentMember
LOCs for general corporate operations [Member] |  |
Letters of Credit ("LOCs"): |  |
Letters of Credit (LOC's) | $ 4,500 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_LetterOfCreditForGeneralCorporateOperationsMember | $ 4,500 us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / mth_LetterOfCreditAndSuretyBondsByTypeAxis = mth_LetterOfCreditForGeneralCorporateOperationsMember

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- Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition The outstanding amount of off-balance sheet obligations related to surety bonds issued related to certain development agreements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mth_SuretiesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The estimated dollar amount remaining to complete the project for which the Company maintains a surety bond obligation. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | mth_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
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