Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]
Condensed balance sheet aggregated by type of business	Condensed Balance Sheets: October 31, 2012 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalCash and cash equivalents17,189 40,126 11,005 44,176 112,496Inventory255,561 294,724 5,643 555,928Non-performing loan portfolio 226,315 226,315Rental properties 173,767 173,767Real estate owned 254,250 254,250Other assets (1)12,427 72,301 9,182 237,476 331,386Total assets285,177 407,151 199,597 762,217 1,654,142Debt (1)96,862 34,184 195,359 311,801 638,206Other liabilities13,890 5,707 5,202 561 25,360Members’ equity174,425 367,260 (964) 179,942 720,663Noncontrolling interest 269,913 269,913Total liabilities and equity285,177 407,151 199,597 762,217 1,654,142Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)116,452 173,465 3,357 37,343 330,617 October 31, 2011 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalCash and cash equivalents14,190 10,663 11,726 48,780 85,359Inventory37,340 170,239 5,501 213,080Non-performing loan portfolio 295,044 295,044Rental properties 178,339 178,339Real estate owned 1,087 230,872 231,959Other assets (1)331,315 20,080 9,675 159,143 520,213Total assets382,845 200,982 206,328 733,839 1,523,994Debt (1)327,856 50,515 198,927 310,847 888,145Other liabilities5,352 9,745 3,427 382 18,906Members’ equity49,637 140,722 3,974 172,944 367,277Noncontrolling interest 249,666 249,666Total liabilities and equity382,845 200,982 206,328 733,839 1,523,994Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)17,098 72,734 1,872 34,651 126,355(1)Included in other assets at October 31, 2012 and 2011 of the Structured Asset Joint Venture is $237.5 million and $152.6 million, respectively, of restricted cash held in a defeasance account which will be used to repay debt of the Structured Asset Joint Venture.(2)Differences between the Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities and its underlying equity in the net assets of the entities are primarily a result of the difference in the purchase price of a joint venture interest and its underlying equity, impairments related to the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities, a loan made to one of the entities by the Company, interest capitalized on the Company's investment and distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of the Company’s net investment.
Condensed statements of operations aggregate by type of business	Condensed Statements of Operations: For the year ended October 31, 2012 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalRevenues39,278 89,947 37,035 31,686 197,946Cost of revenues36,315 65,068 13,985 32,828 148,196Other expenses1,414 4,116 20,587 8,646 34,763Gain on disposition of loans and REO (42,244) (42,244)Total expenses37,729 69,184 34,572 (770) 140,715Income from operations1,549 20,763 2,463 32,456 57,231Other income2,658 157 691 3,506Net income before noncontrolling interest4,207 20,920 2,463 33,147 60,737Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 19,888 19,888Net income4,207 20,920 2,463 13,259 40,849Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)3,996 14,985 1,919 2,692 23,592 For the year ended October 31, 2011 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalRevenues4,624 242,326 37,728 46,187 330,865Cost of revenues3,996 191,922 15,365 30,477 241,760Other expenses1,527 8,954 18,808 10,624 39,913Gain on disposition of loans and REO (61,406) (61,406)Total expenses5,523 200,876 34,173 (20,305) 220,267Income (loss) from operations(899) 41,450 3,555 66,492 110,598Other income9,498 1,605 252 11,355Net income before noncontrolling interest8,599 43,055 3,555 66,744 121,953Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 40,048 40,048Net income8,599 43,055 3,555 26,696 81,905Company’s equity in (loss) earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)(25,272) 15,159 3,580 5,339 (1,194) For the year ended October 31, 2010 Development joint ventures Home building joint ventures Toll Brothers Realty Trust I and II Structured assetjointventure TotalRevenues7,370 132,878 34,755 16,582 191,585Cost of revenues6,402 106,638 13,375 6,693 133,108Other expenses1,522 8,121 18,693 2,977 31,313Loss on disposition of loans and REO 5,272 5,272Total expenses7,924 114,759 32,068 14,942 169,693Income (loss) from operations(554) 18,119 2,687 1,640 21,892Other income13,616 572 5 14,193Net income before noncontrolling interest13,062 18,691 2,687 1,645 36,085Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 987 987Net income13,062 18,691 2,687 658 35,098Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)10,664 11,272 1,402 132 23,470(3)Differences between the Company’s equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities and the underlying net income of the entities are primarily a result of impairments related to the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities, distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of the Company’s net investment and the Company’s share of the entities profits related to home sites purchased by the Company that reduces the Company’s cost basis of the home sites.

Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2012

Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]

Condensed balance sheet aggregated by type of business

Condensed Balance Sheets: October 31, 2012 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalCash and cash equivalents17,189 40,126 11,005 44,176 112,496Inventory255,561 294,724 5,643 555,928Non-performing loan portfolio 226,315 226,315Rental properties 173,767 173,767Real estate owned 254,250 254,250Other assets (1)12,427 72,301 9,182 237,476 331,386Total assets285,177 407,151 199,597 762,217 1,654,142Debt (1)96,862 34,184 195,359 311,801 638,206Other liabilities13,890 5,707 5,202 561 25,360Members’ equity174,425 367,260 (964) 179,942 720,663Noncontrolling interest 269,913 269,913Total liabilities and equity285,177 407,151 199,597 762,217 1,654,142Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)116,452 173,465 3,357 37,343 330,617 October 31, 2011 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalCash and cash equivalents14,190 10,663 11,726 48,780 85,359Inventory37,340 170,239 5,501 213,080Non-performing loan portfolio 295,044 295,044Rental properties 178,339 178,339Real estate owned 1,087 230,872 231,959Other assets (1)331,315 20,080 9,675 159,143 520,213Total assets382,845 200,982 206,328 733,839 1,523,994Debt (1)327,856 50,515 198,927 310,847 888,145Other liabilities5,352 9,745 3,427 382 18,906Members’ equity49,637 140,722 3,974 172,944 367,277Noncontrolling interest 249,666 249,666Total liabilities and equity382,845 200,982 206,328 733,839 1,523,994Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities (2)17,098 72,734 1,872 34,651 126,355(1)Included in other assets at October 31, 2012 and 2011 of the Structured Asset Joint Venture is $237.5 million and $152.6 million, respectively, of restricted cash held in a defeasance account which will be used to repay debt of the Structured Asset Joint Venture.(2)Differences between the Company’s net investment in unconsolidated entities and its underlying equity in the net assets of the entities are primarily a result of the difference in the purchase price of a joint venture interest and its underlying equity, impairments related to the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities, a loan made to one of the entities by the Company, interest capitalized on the Company's investment and distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of the Company’s net investment.

Condensed statements of operations aggregate by type of business

Condensed Statements of Operations: For the year ended October 31, 2012 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalRevenues39,278 89,947 37,035 31,686 197,946Cost of revenues36,315 65,068 13,985 32,828 148,196Other expenses1,414 4,116 20,587 8,646 34,763Gain on disposition of loans and REO (42,244) (42,244)Total expenses37,729 69,184 34,572 (770) 140,715Income from operations1,549 20,763 2,463 32,456 57,231Other income2,658 157 691 3,506Net income before noncontrolling interest4,207 20,920 2,463 33,147 60,737Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 19,888 19,888Net income4,207 20,920 2,463 13,259 40,849Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)3,996 14,985 1,919 2,692 23,592 For the year ended October 31, 2011 Develop-ment jointventures Homebuildingjointventures TollBrothersRealty TrustI and II Structuredassetjointventure TotalRevenues4,624 242,326 37,728 46,187 330,865Cost of revenues3,996 191,922 15,365 30,477 241,760Other expenses1,527 8,954 18,808 10,624 39,913Gain on disposition of loans and REO (61,406) (61,406)Total expenses5,523 200,876 34,173 (20,305) 220,267Income (loss) from operations(899) 41,450 3,555 66,492 110,598Other income9,498 1,605 252 11,355Net income before noncontrolling interest8,599 43,055 3,555 66,744 121,953Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 40,048 40,048Net income8,599 43,055 3,555 26,696 81,905Company’s equity in (loss) earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)(25,272) 15,159 3,580 5,339 (1,194) For the year ended October 31, 2010 Development joint ventures Home building joint ventures Toll Brothers Realty Trust I and II Structured assetjointventure TotalRevenues7,370 132,878 34,755 16,582 191,585Cost of revenues6,402 106,638 13,375 6,693 133,108Other expenses1,522 8,121 18,693 2,977 31,313Loss on disposition of loans and REO 5,272 5,272Total expenses7,924 114,759 32,068 14,942 169,693Income (loss) from operations(554) 18,119 2,687 1,640 21,892Other income13,616 572 5 14,193Net income before noncontrolling interest13,062 18,691 2,687 1,645 36,085Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 987 987Net income13,062 18,691 2,687 658 35,098Company’s equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (3)10,664 11,272 1,402 132 23,470(3)Differences between the Company’s equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities and the underlying net income of the entities are primarily a result of impairments related to the Company’s investments in unconsolidated entities, distributions from entities in excess of the carrying amount of the Company’s net investment and the Company’s share of the entities profits related to home sites purchased by the Company that reduces the Company’s cost basis of the home sites.