Consolidation entries and other for assets.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_ConsolidationEntriesAndOtherForAssets
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reserve account established to account for expected but unspecified losses related to contract land deposits.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nvr_LossReserveOnContractLandDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3044-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash Equivalents
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32537-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. Goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Intangible assets are assets, not including financial assets, lacking physical substance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingAssetReconcilingItemLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=d3e5710-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=nvr_HomebuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=nvr_MortgageBankingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=nvr_MidAtlanticMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=nvr_NorthEastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=nvr_MidEastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=nvr_SouthEastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=nvr_MaterialReconcilingItemsAndCorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Information, Nature of Operations, and Certain Concentrations - Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 2,643,943	$ 2,511,718
Cash and cash equivalents	396,619	425,316	$ 545,419	$ 866,253
Contract land deposit reserve	(31,306)	(42,239)
Homebuilding [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	2,233,346	2,132,168
Consolidated variable interest entity	1,251	1,749
Cash and cash equivalents	375,748	397,522
Deferred taxes	170,652	161,805
Intangible assets and goodwill	2,599	3,982
Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	410,597	379,550
Cash and cash equivalents	19,657	26,804
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	2,021,710	1,895,779
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| Mid Atlantic [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	1,054,779	994,804
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| North East [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	126,720	133,106
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| Mid East [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	222,736	220,094
Operating Segments [Member] \| Homebuilding [Member] \| South East [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	214,225	175,572
Operating Segments [Member] \| Mortgage Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	403,250	372,203
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	622,233	615,939
Consolidated variable interest entity	1,251	1,749
Cash and cash equivalents	375,748	397,522
Deferred taxes	170,652	161,805
Intangible assets and goodwill	51,526	52,909
Contract land deposit reserve	(31,306)	(42,239)
Consolidation adjustments and other	$ 54,362	$ 44,193