Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 899,341		$ 778,824	$ 601,451		$ 906,340
Marketable securities	122,527		439,068
Restricted cash	33,416		47,276
Inventory	4,517,008		3,761,187
Property, construction and office equipment, net	126,360		109,971
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	174,960		144,558
Mortgage loans receivable	72,163		86,386
Customer deposits held in escrow	48,878		29,579
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	356,837		330,617
Investments in distressed loans	42,500		37,169
Investments in foreclosed real estate	72,912	71,458	58,353	37,992	18,108	5,939
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0		0
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	320,641		358,056
Assets	6,787,543		6,181,044
Liabilities:
Loans Payable	97,679		99,817
Senior notes	2,425,806		2,080,463
Mortgage company warehouse loan	65,654		72,664
Customer deposits	231,493		142,977
Accounts payable	153,163		99,911
Accrued expenses	518,447		476,350
Advances from Affiliiate	0		0
Income taxes payable	78,973		80,991
Total liabilities	3,571,215		3,053,173
Equity:
Common stock	1,693		1,687
Additional paid-in capital	430,191		404,418
Retained earnings	2,797,098		2,721,397
Treasury stock, at cost --461 shares and 53 shares at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	(14,218)		(983)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,630)	(4,861)	(4,819)
Total stockholders' equity	3,210,134		3,121,700
Noncontrolling interest	6,194		6,171
Total equity	3,216,328		3,127,871
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,787,543		6,181,044
New Guarantors [Member]
ASSETS
Inventory			212,504
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities			110,014
Assets			326,924
Liabilities:
Loans Payable			30,424
Advances from Affiliiate			281,584
Total liabilities			322,024
Equity:
Total equity			4,900
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	15,094		28,268
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	120		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	2,953,381		2,816,607
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	320,641		358,056
Assets	3,289,236		3,203,065
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Advances from Affiliiate
Income taxes payable	78,973		80,991
Total liabilities	78,973		80,991
Equity:
Common stock	1,693		1,687
Additional paid-in capital	430,191		404,418
Retained earnings	2,797,098		2,721,397
Treasury stock, at cost --461 shares and 53 shares at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	(14,218)		(983)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,501)		(4,445)
Total stockholders' equity	3,210,263		3,122,074
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,210,263		3,122,074
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,289,236		3,203,065
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	16,524		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	2,455,063		2,092,810
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Assets	2,471,587		2,107,940
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes	2,384,717		2,032,335
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	43,023		27,476
Advances from Affiliiate
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	2,427,740		2,059,811
Equity:
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital	49,400		49,400
Retained earnings	(5,553)		(1,271)
Treasury stock, at cost --461 shares and 53 shares at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	43,847		48,129
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	43,847		48,129
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,471,587		2,107,940
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	772,728		712,024	533,371		777,012
Marketable securities	112,508		378,858
Restricted cash	17,041		17,561
Inventory	4,494,099		3,740,181
Property, construction and office equipment, net	111,836		106,963
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	86,904		76,192
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow	48,878		27,312
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	173,118		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
Assets	5,821,852		5,243,990
Liabilities:
Loans Payable	97,679		99,817
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits	231,493		142,919
Accounts payable	153,200		99,889
Accrued expenses	350,209		344,555
Advances from Affiliiate	1,750,366		1,385,475
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	2,582,947		2,072,655
Equity:
Common stock	48		48
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings	3,238,967		3,171,654
Treasury stock, at cost --461 shares and 53 shares at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(110)		(367)
Total stockholders' equity	3,238,905		3,171,335
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,238,905		3,171,335
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,821,852		5,243,990
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	126,613		66,800	68,080		129,328
Marketable securities	10,019		60,210
Restricted cash	1,281		1,447
Inventory	22,909		21,006
Property, construction and office equipment, net	14,524		3,008
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	98,424		64,543
Mortgage loans receivable	72,163		86,386
Customer deposits held in escrow			2,267
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	183,719		150,458
Investments in distressed loans	42,500		37,169
Investments in foreclosed real estate	72,912		58,353
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Assets	645,064		551,647
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan	65,654		72,664
Customer deposits			58
Accounts payable	(37)		22
Accrued expenses	152,336		115,922
Advances from Affiliiate	402,694		348,909
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	620,647		537,575
Equity:
Common stock	3,006		3,006
Additional paid-in capital	1,734		1,734
Retained earnings	13,502		3,168
Treasury stock, at cost --461 shares and 53 shares at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(19)		(7)
Total stockholders' equity	18,223		7,901
Noncontrolling interest	6,194		6,171
Total equity	24,417		14,072
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	645,064		551,647
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	(27,012)		(11,441)
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	(5,413,184)		(4,914,157)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Assets	(5,440,196)		(4,925,598)
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes	41,089		48,128
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(27,121)		(11,603)
Advances from Affiliiate	(2,153,060)		(1,734,384)
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	(2,139,092)		(1,697,859)
Equity:
Common stock	(3,054)		(3,054)
Additional paid-in capital	(51,134)		(51,134)
Retained earnings	(3,246,916)		(3,173,551)
Treasury stock, at cost --461 shares and 53 shares at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	(3,301,104)		(3,227,739)
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	(3,301,104)		(3,227,739)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (5,440,196)		$ (4,925,598)