Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details 3) (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 held for sale	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
Advances from Affiliiate	0	0
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 held for sale
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
Advances from Affiliiate
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 held for sale
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
Advances from Affiliiate
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	293,678	712,024	441,916	777,012
Marketable securities	364,585	378,858
Restricted cash	17,369	17,561
Inventory	4,095,454	3,695,895
Property, construction and office equipment, net	109,618	106,963
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	79,443	76,192
Mortgage loans held for sale
Customer deposits held in escrow	28,455	27,312
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	165,818	180,159
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	4,740	4,740
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	5,159,160	5,199,704
Liabilities:
Loans payable	93,314	99,817
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits	156,758	142,919
Accounts payable	110,764	99,889
Accrued expenses	320,441	344,555
Advances from Affiliiate	1,302,700	1,341,189
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	1,983,977	2,028,369
Equity:
Common stock	48	48
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings	3,175,277	3,171,654
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	3,175,183	3,171,335
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,175,183	3,171,335
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,159,160	5,199,704
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	75,078	66,800	133,778	129,328
Marketable securities	60,234	60,210
Restricted cash	1,328	1,447
Inventory	59,593	65,292
Property, construction and office equipment, net	3,259	3,008
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	72,895	64,543
Mortgage loans held for sale	49,400	86,386
Customer deposits held in escrow	2,846	2,267
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	156,033	150,458
Investments in distressed loans	42,832	37,169
Investments in foreclosed real estate	68,764	58,353
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	592,262	595,933
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan	43,464	72,664
Customer deposits		58
Accounts payable	27	22
Accrued expenses	123,892	115,922
Advances from Affiliiate	408,269	393,195
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	575,652	581,861
Equity:
Common stock	3,006	3,006
Additional paid-in capital	1,734	1,734
Retained earnings	5,725	3,168
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	10,422	7,901
Noncontrolling interest	6,188	6,171
Total equity	16,610	14,072
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	592,262	595,933
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)	(11,441)
Mortgage loans held for sale
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	(4,897,837)	(4,914,157)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Total assets	(4,911,898)	(4,925,598)
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	45,747	48,128
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(14,207)	(11,603)
Advances from Affiliiate	(1,710,969)	(1,734,384)
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	(1,679,429)	(1,697,859)
Equity:
Common stock	(3,054)	(3,054)
Additional paid-in capital	(51,134)	(51,134)
Retained earnings	(3,178,281)	(3,173,551)
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	(3,232,469)	(3,227,739)
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	(3,232,469)	(3,227,739)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (4,911,898)	$ (4,925,598)