Non-controlling Interest - Net income reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Income before provision for income taxes - parent									$ 17,243	$ 33,850	$ 41,238
Income before provision for income taxes	$ 4,638	$ 8,775	$ 6,630	$ 9,080	$ 7,564	$ 20,717	$ 19,319	$ 10,165	29,123	57,765	66,164
Provision for income taxes attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.									(6,279)	(8,810)	(14,355)
Provision for income taxes	(2,556)	(2,051)	(706)	(3,790)	(2,362)	(3,453)	(3,186)	(1,908)	(9,103)	(10,909)	(16,342)
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	1,291	3,553	3,489	2,631	2,888	9,173	8,570	4,409	10,964	25,040	26,883
Net income: Non-controlling interest	791	3,171	2,435	2,659	2,314	8,091	7,563	3,848	9,056	21,816	22,939
Net income	$ 2,082	$ 6,724	$ 5,924	$ 5,290	$ 5,202	$ 17,264	$ 16,133	$ 8,257	$ 20,020	$ 46,856	49,822
RMCO, LLC
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Parent economic interest in RMCO (as a percent)	59.40%				58.70%				59.40%	58.70%
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.									$ 10,964	$ 25,040	$ 26,883
RMCO, LLC | Weighted Average
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Parent economic interest in RMCO (as a percent)	59.10%				58.60%				59.10%	58.60%	58.60%
Total (as a percentage)	100.00%				100.00%				100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
RIHI
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Income before provision for income taxes: Non-controlling interest									$ 11,880	$ 23,915	$ 24,926
Provision for income taxes									(2,824)	(2,099)	(1,987)
Net income: Non-controlling interest									$ 9,056	$ 21,816	$ 22,939
RIHI | RMCO, LLC
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Weighted average ownership of non-controlling interest	40.60%				41.30%				40.60%	41.30%
RIHI | RMCO, LLC | Weighted Average
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Weighted average ownership of non-controlling interest	40.90%				41.40%				40.90%	41.40%	41.40%