Note 13 - Per Share Calculation - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2021	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2021	Apr. 30, 2020
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Hovnanian	$ 488,676	$ 4,079	$ 507,635	$ (5,069)
Less: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares	(44,383)	(216)	(46,147)	0
Numerator for basic earnings (loss) per share	444,293	3,863	461,488	(5,069)
Plus: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested shares	44,383	216	46,147	0
Less: undistributed earnings reallocated to nonvested shares	(45,170)	(216)	(47,338)	0
Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$ 443,506	$ 3,863	$ 460,297	$ (5,069)
Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	6,248	6,172	6,236	6,166
Share based payments (in shares)	120	260	95	0
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	6,368	6,432	6,331	6,166
Net income (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 71.11	$ 0.63	$ 74.00	$ (0.82)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 69.65	$ 0.60	$ 72.71	$ (0.82)