Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 778,824	$ 906,340	$ 1,039,060	$ 1,807,718
Marketable securities	439,068	233,572
Restricted cash	47,276	19,760
Inventory	3,761,187	3,416,723
Property, construction and office equipment, net	106,214	99,712
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	148,315	105,576
Mortgage loans receivable	86,386	63,175
Customer deposits held in escrow	29,579	14,859
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	330,617	126,355
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	95,522	69,174
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	0	0
Deferred tax assets, net	358,056
Total assets	6,181,044	5,055,246
Liabilities:
Loans payable	99,817	106,556
Senior notes	2,080,463	1,490,972
Mortgage company warehouse loan	72,664	57,409
Customer deposits	142,977	83,824
Accounts payable	99,911	96,817
Accrued expenses	476,350	521,051
Income taxes payable	80,991	106,066
Total liabilities	3,053,173	2,462,695
Equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	404,418	400,382
Retained earnings	2,721,397	2,234,251
Treasury stock, at cost --53 shares and 2,946 shares at October 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	(983)	(47,065)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,819)	(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	3,121,700	2,586,353
Noncontrolling interest	6,171	6,198
Total equity	3,127,871	2,592,551	2,559,013	2,516,482
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,181,044	5,055,246
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	28,268
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	134
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	2,823,052	2,694,419
Deferred tax assets, net	358,056
Total assets	3,209,510	2,694,419
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Income taxes payable	82,991	108,066
Total liabilities	82,991	108,066
Equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	404,418	400,382
Retained earnings	2,721,397	2,234,251
Treasury stock, at cost --53 shares and 2,946 shares at October 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	(983)	(47,065)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	3,126,519	2,586,353
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,126,519	2,586,353
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,209,510	2,694,419
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	15,130	6,768
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	2,092,810	1,508,550
Deferred tax assets, net	0
Total assets	2,107,940	1,515,318
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	2,032,335	1,490,972
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	27,476	24,346
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	2,059,811	1,515,318
Equity:
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital	49,400
Retained earnings	(1,271)
Treasury stock, at cost --53 shares and 2,946 shares at October 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	48,129	0
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	48,129	0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,107,940	1,515,318
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	711,375	775,300	930,387	1,700,351
Marketable securities	378,858	233,572
Restricted cash	17,561	19,084
Inventory	3,527,677	2,911,211
Property, construction and office equipment, net	103,206	77,001
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	80,932	74,980
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow	27,312	10,682
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	70,145	86,481
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	(1,173,254)	(727,258)
Deferred tax assets, net	0
Total assets	3,743,812	3,461,053
Liabilities:
Loans payable	69,393	61,994
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits	136,225	71,388
Accounts payable	99,889	96,645
Accrued expenses	341,233	320,021
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	646,740	550,048
Equity:
Common stock	48	3,054
Additional paid-in capital		1,366
Retained earnings	3,101,833	2,909,487
Treasury stock, at cost --53 shares and 2,946 shares at October 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,809)	(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	3,097,072	2,911,005
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,097,072	2,911,005
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,743,812	3,461,053
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	67,449	131,040	108,673	107,367
Marketable securities	60,210
Restricted cash	1,447	676
Inventory	233,510	505,512
Property, construction and office equipment, net	3,008	22,711
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	68,300	26,067
Mortgage loans receivable	86,386	63,175
Customer deposits held in escrow	2,267	4,177
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	260,472	39,874
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	95,522	69,174
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	(632,496)	(477,322)
Deferred tax assets, net	0
Total assets	246,075	385,084
Liabilities:
Loans payable	30,424	44,562
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan	72,664	57,409
Customer deposits	6,752	12,436
Accounts payable	22	172
Accrued expenses	119,244	178,965
Income taxes payable	(2,000)	(2,000)
Total liabilities	227,106	291,544
Equity:
Common stock	3,006	2,003
Additional paid-in capital	1,734	2,734
Retained earnings	8,068	82,605
Treasury stock, at cost --53 shares and 2,946 shares at October 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10)
Total stockholders' equity	12,798	87,342
Noncontrolling interest	6,171	6,198
Total equity	18,969	93,540
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	246,075	385,084
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(16,181)	(2,239)
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Amount of Equity	(3,110,112)	(2,998,389)
Deferred tax assets, net	0
Total assets	(3,126,293)	(3,000,628)
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	48,128
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(11,603)	(2,281)
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	36,525	(2,281)
Equity:
Common stock	(3,054)	(5,057)
Additional paid-in capital	(51,134)	(4,100)
Retained earnings	(3,108,630)	(2,992,092)
Treasury stock, at cost --53 shares and 2,946 shares at October 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		2,902
Total stockholders' equity	(3,162,818)	(2,998,347)
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	(3,162,818)	(2,998,347)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (3,126,293)	$ (3,000,628)