Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 545,419	$ 866,253
Inventory:
Land under development	33,689	41,328
Contract land deposits, net	294,676	236,885
Total assets	2,351,335	2,486,148
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Total liabilities	1,227,080	1,224,796
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 20,555,330 shares issued as of both December 31, 2014 and 2013	206	206
Additional paid-in-capital	1,325,495	1,212,050
Deferred compensation trust – 108,614 and 109,256 shares of NVR, Inc. common stock as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	(17,333)	(17,741)
Deferred compensation liability	17,333	17,741
Retained earnings	4,887,187	4,605,557
Less treasury stock at cost – 16,506,229 and 16,121,605 shares as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	(5,088,633)	(4,556,461)
Total shareholders' equity	1,124,255	1,261,352
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,351,335	2,486,148
Homebuilding [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	514,780	844,274
Receivables	10,021	9,529
Inventory:
Lots and housing units, covered under sales agreements with customers	690,955	568,831
Unsold lots and housing units	131,938	117,467
Land under development	33,689	41,328
Building materials and other	12,904	10,939
Total Inventory	869,486	738,565
Assets related to consolidated variable interest entity	3,590	7,268
Contract land deposits, net	294,676	236,885
Property, plant and equipment, net	46,242	32,599
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	41,580	41,580
Goodwill and finite-lived intangible assets, net	5,364	6,747
Deferred tax assets, net	165,189	162,378
Other assets	137,091	145,555
Total assets	2,088,019	2,225,380
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	204,622	181,687
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	289,058	316,227
Liabilities related to consolidated variable interest entity	1,618	1,646
Non-recourse debt related to consolidated variable interest entity	64	3,365
Customer deposits	106,755	101,022
Senior notes	599,166	599,075
Total liabilities	1,201,283	1,203,022
Mortgage Banking [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	30,158	21,311
Mortgage loans held for sale, net	205,664	210,641
Inventory:
Property, plant and equipment, net	6,189	4,699
Reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets, net	7,347	7,347
Other assets	13,958	16,770
Total assets	263,316	260,768
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable and other liabilities	25,797	21,774
Total liabilities	$ 25,797	$ 21,774