Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012 Lot	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010 Lot
Related party forward lot purchase agreement purchase price	$ 49,000
Number of related parties for forward lot purchase agreement	1
Market price of developed lots	54,600	36,100	54,600
Expected yield of related party lots	1,500
Finished lots expected under related party transactions			600
Cost basis of related party parcel			49,000
Cost basis of related party parcel including development costs	48,000
Development costs to manage property under related party transactions	$ 143	$ 143	$ 36

Cost basis of related party parcel of land.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_CostBasisOfRelatedPartyParcel
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Cost basis of related party parcel of land, including development costs.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_CostBasisOfRelatedPartyParcelIncludingDevelopmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Development costs paid to manage property of the related party transaction.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_DevelopmentCostsForRelatedPartyTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Expected yield of finished lots with remaining land of related party.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_ExpectedYieldOfRelatedPartyLots
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of finished lots expected to be produced through a related party purchase of zoned, unimproved raw parcel of land.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_FinishedLotsExpectedUnderRelatedPartyTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Market price of developed lots purchased by NVR.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_MarketPriceOfDevelopedLots
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Number of related parties for forward lot purchase agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_NumberOfRelatedPartiesForForwardLotPurchaseAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Purchase price of forward lot purchase agreement with related party.

No definition available.

Name:	nvr_RelatedPartyForwardLotPurchaseAgreementPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	nvr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration