Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 368,756	$ 778,824	$ 575,694	$ 906,340
Marketable securities	424,819	439,068
Restricted cash	33,757	47,276
Inventory	4,155,047	3,761,187
Property, construction and office equipment, net	112,877	109,971
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	152,881	144,558
Mortgage loans receivable	49,400	86,386
Customer deposits held in escrow	31,301	29,579
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	321,851	330,617
Investments in distressed loans	42,832	37,169
Investments in foreclosed real estate	68,764	58,353	6,488	5,939
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0	0
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	355,966	358,056
Total assets	6,118,251	6,181,044
Liabilities:
Loans payable	93,314	99,817
Senior notes	2,021,897	2,080,463
Mortgage company warehouse loan	43,464	72,664
Customer deposits	156,758	142,977
Accounts payable	110,791	99,911
Accrued expenses	467,652	476,350
Income taxes payable	83,265	80,991
Total liabilities	2,977,141	3,053,173
Equity:
Common stock	1,692	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	412,242	404,418
Retained earnings	2,725,829	2,721,397
Treasury stock, at cost --1 share and 53 shares at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	(38)	(983)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,803)	(4,819)
Total stockholders' equity	3,134,922	3,121,700
Noncontrolling interest	6,188	6,171
Total equity	3,141,110	3,127,871
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,118,251	6,181,044
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	15,060	28,268
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	146	134
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,847,200	2,816,607
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	355,966	358,056
Total assets	3,218,372	3,203,065
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Income taxes payable	83,265	80,991
Total liabilities	83,265	80,991
Equity:
Common stock	1,692	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	412,242	404,418
Retained earnings	2,725,829	2,721,397
Treasury stock, at cost --1 share and 53 shares at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	(38)	(983)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,618)	(4,445)
Total stockholders' equity	3,135,107	3,122,074
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,135,107	3,122,074
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,218,372	3,203,065
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	14,458	15,130
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,045,897	2,092,810
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	2,060,355	2,107,940
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	1,976,150	2,032,335
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	37,526	27,476
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	2,013,676	2,059,811
Equity:
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital	49,400	49,400
Retained earnings	(2,721)	(1,271)
Treasury stock, at cost --1 share and 53 shares at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	46,679	48,129
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	46,679	48,129
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,060,355	2,107,940
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	293,256	711,375	441,916	775,300
Marketable securities	364,585	378,858
Restricted cash	17,369	17,561
Inventory	3,859,964	3,527,677
Property, construction and office equipment, net	109,618	106,963
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	74,673	77,175
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow	28,455	27,312
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	64,931	70,145
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(1,044,776)	(1,168,812)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	3,768,075	3,748,254
Liabilities:
Loans payable	78,308	69,393
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits	148,085	136,225
Accounts payable	110,764	99,889
Accrued expenses	317,137	341,233
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	654,294	646,740
Equity:
Common stock	48	48
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings	3,113,875	3,101,833
Treasury stock, at cost --1 share and 53 shares at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(142)	(367)
Total stockholders' equity	3,113,781	3,101,514
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,113,781	3,101,514
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,768,075	3,748,254
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	75,500	67,449	133,778	131,040
Marketable securities	60,234	60,210
Restricted cash	1,328	1,447
Inventory	295,083	233,510
Property, construction and office equipment, net	3,259	3,008
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	77,665	68,300
Mortgage loans receivable	49,400	86,386
Customer deposits held in escrow	2,846	2,267
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	256,920	260,472
Investments in distressed loans	42,832	37,169
Investments in foreclosed real estate	68,764	58,353
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(714,679)	(630,493)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	219,152	248,078
Liabilities:
Loans payable	15,006	30,424
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan	43,464	72,664
Customer deposits	8,673	6,752
Accounts payable	27	22
Accrued expenses	127,196	119,244
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	194,366	229,106
Equity:
Common stock	3,006	3,006
Additional paid-in capital	1,734	1,734
Retained earnings	13,901	8,068
Treasury stock, at cost --1 share and 53 shares at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(43)	(7)
Total stockholders' equity	18,598	12,801
Noncontrolling interest	6,188	6,171
Total equity	24,786	18,972
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	219,152	248,078
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(14,061)	(16,181)
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(3,133,642)	(3,110,112)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	(3,147,703)	(3,126,293)
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	45,747	48,128
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(14,207)	(11,603)
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	31,540	36,525
Equity:
Common stock	(3,054)	(3,054)
Additional paid-in capital	(51,134)	(51,134)
Retained earnings	(3,125,055)	(3,108,630)
Treasury stock, at cost --1 share and 53 shares at January 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	(3,179,243)	(3,162,818)
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	(3,179,243)	(3,162,818)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (3,147,703)	$ (3,126,293)