Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($) Lot Parcel	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Lot	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum range of deposits required under the purchase agreements		10.00%
Contract land deposits		$ 385,534	$ 350,750
Subsequent Event [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Acquisition costs of raw parcel of land	$ 150,000
Number of lots expected to produce from raw land acquisition | Lot	1,000
Number of lots under contract with unrelated party | Lot	160
Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Maximum range of deposits required under the purchase agreements		10.00%
Lots controlled by NVR | Lot		68,800
Contract land deposits in cash		$ 373,300
Letters of credit related to lots		$ 3,000
Contract on Raw Ground with Landowners [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Lots controlled by NVR | Lot		8,800
Contract land deposits		$ 12,200
Letters of credit related to land contract		350
Refundable deposits and letters of credit		8,700
Contract land deposits amount related to property acquired		$ 5,000
Contract on Raw Ground with Landowners [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of raw parcels of land acquired | Parcel	1
Acquisition costs of raw parcel of land	$ 150,000
Number of lots expected to produce from raw land acquisition | Lot	1,000
Number of lots under contract with unrelated party | Lot	160