Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash	$ 261,898,000	$ 329,204,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	29,300,000	31,900,000
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Specific performance options	3,500,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	63,883,000	51,438,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	46,744,000	46,211,000
Income taxes receivable – including net deferred tax benefits (Note 12)	284,543,000
Total assets	2,289,930,000	1,759,130,000
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities from inventory not owned	3,400,000
Notes payable:
Accrued interest	32,222,000	28,261,000
Total notes payable	1,689,779,000	1,557,706,000
Income taxes payable		3,301,000
Total liabilities	2,407,729,000	2,191,929,000
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders' equity deficit:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value - authorized 100,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,600 shares with a liquidation preference of $140,000 at October 31, 2014 and 2013	135,299,000	135,299,000
Paid in capital - common stock	697,943,000	689,727,000
Accumulated deficit	(837,264,000)	(1,144,408,000)
Treasury stock - at cost	(115,360,000)	(115,360,000)
Total Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders' equity deficit	(117,799,000)	(433,226,000)
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures		427,000
Total equity deficit	(117,799,000)	(432,799,000)
Total liabilities and equity	2,289,930,000	1,759,130,000
Common Class A [Member]
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders' equity deficit:
Common stock	1,428,000	1,363,000
Common Class B [Member]
Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. stockholders' equity deficit:
Common stock	155,000	153,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Secured debt	103,908,000	62,903,000
Homebuilding [Member] | Nonrecourse Mortgages Secured By Operating Properties [Member] | Mortgages [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Secured debt	16,619,000	17,733,000
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash	255,117,000	319,142,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	13,086,000	10,286,000
Inventories:
Sold and unsold homes and lots under development	961,994,000	752,749,000
Land and land options held for future development or sale	273,463,000	225,152,000
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Specific performance options	3,479,000	792,000
Other options	105,374,000	100,071,000
Total consolidated inventory not owned	108,853,000	100,863,000
Total inventories	1,344,310,000	1,078,764,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures	63,883,000	51,438,000
Receivables, deposits and notes, net	92,546,000	45,085,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	46,744,000	46,211,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	69,358,000	59,351,000
Total assets	1,885,044,000	1,610,277,000
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities from inventory not owned	92,381,000	87,866,000
Notes payable:
Total liabilities	618,753,000	506,385,000
Accounts payable and other liabilities	370,876,000	307,764,000
Customers’ deposits	34,969,000	30,119,000
Financial Services [Member]
ASSETS
Cash	6,781,000	10,062,000
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	16,236,000	21,557,000
Mortgage loans held for sale at fair value	95,338,000	112,953,000
Other assets	1,988,000	4,281,000
Consolidated inventory not owned:
Total assets	120,343,000	148,853,000
Notes payable:
Total liabilities	99,197,000	124,537,000
Accounts payable and other liabilities	22,278,000	32,874,000
Mortgage warehouse lines of credit	76,919,000	91,663,000
Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	979,935,000	978,611,000
Unsecured Senior Notes Excluding Senior Amortizing Notes And Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	590,472,000	461,210,000
Senior Amortizing Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	17,049,000	20,857,000
Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	70,101,000	66,615,000
Senior Subordinated Amortizing Notes [Member]
Notes payable:
Senior notes	$ 0	$ 2,152,000