Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Mar. 02, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000357294
Trading Symbol	hov
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		15,470,480
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		132,643,015