Aggregate annual retention for construction defect, warranty and bodily injury claims.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_AggregateRetentionForConstructionDefectsWarrantyandBodilyInjuryClaims
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Annual deductible for bodily injury claims.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_BodilyInjuryInsuranceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The limit on our deductible for bodily injury claims.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_BodilyInjuryInsuranceLimit
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of cash received from subcontractors for owner controlled insurance program, which we accounted for as a reduction to inventory.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_CashReceivedFromSubcontractorsForOwnerControlledInsuranceProgram
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Annual deductible under our general liability insurance per occurrence for construction defects and warranty claims on homes delivered.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_GeneralLiabilityInsuranceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	hov_Note17WarrantyCostsDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Individual insurance claim or claims settled and paid by our insurance carriers during the period.

No definition available.

Number of Warranty Claims

No definition available.

Name:	hov_NumberOfWarrantyClaims
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Insurance claims paid by our insurance carriers, excluding insurance deductibles paid.

No definition available.

Name:	hov_PaymentsByInsuranceCompaniesForClaims
Namespace Prefix:	hov_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Note 17 - Warranty Costs (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Note 17 - Warranty Costs (Details) [Line Items]
Cash Received From Subcontractors For Owner Controlled Insurance Program		$ 2.2	$ 2.1
General Liability Insurance, Deductible		20	20	20
Bodily Injury Insurance, Deductible		0.25	0.10
Bodily Injury Insurance, Limit		5	5
Aggregate Retention for Construction Defects, Warranty and Bodily Injury Claims		21	21
Payments by Insurance Companies for Claims		$ 9.7	$ 18.1
Number Of Claims Settled	2
Northeast [Member]
Note 17 - Warranty Costs (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Warranty Claims	1
West [Member]
Note 17 - Warranty Costs (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Warranty Claims	1