Represents the percentage of the plaintiff's costs that the plaintiff demands the defendant to pay.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_LossContingencyPercentageOfPlaintiffsCostsForWhichReimbursementIsDemanded
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of supersedeas bond that was posted in order to delay payment of a judgment until after the appeal.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hov_LossContingencySupersedeasBond
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=hov_EPACaseInvolvingAHousingRedevelopmentProjectInNewarkNewJerseyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=hov_GrandviewAtRiverwalkPortImperialCondominiumAssociationConstructionDefectLawsuitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=hov_BreachOfWarrantyAndNewJerseyFraudClaimsPriorToStatutoryTreblingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=hov_AttorneyFeesAndCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=hov_GreatNotchCondominiumClaimsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 18 - Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions					12 Months Ended
	May 02, 2018	Jan. 12, 2018	Dec. 15, 2017	Jun. 01, 2017	Oct. 31, 2018	Feb. 16, 2018
EPA Case Involving a Housing Redevelopment Project in Newark, New Jersey [Member]
Loss Contingency, Percentage of Plaintiff's Costs for Which Reimbursement is Demanded	100.00%
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value	$ 2.7
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value					$ 41.3
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value				$ 9.0
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded to Other Party		$ 10.4
Loss Contingency, Supersedeas Bond						$ 11.1
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member] \| Breach of Warranty and New Jersey Fraud Claims Prior to Statutory Trebling [Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value				$ 3.0
Grandview at Riverwalk Port Imperial Condominium Association Construction Defect Lawsuit [Member] \| Attorney Fees and Costs [Member]
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded to Other Party			$ 1.4
Great Notch Condominium Claims[Member]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value					$ 119.5