Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details Textual)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($) joint_ventures rental_units	Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) joint_ventures	Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019 USD ($) joint_ventures home_sites rental_units Homes_sold	Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) joint_ventures home_sites Homes_sold	Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) joint_ventures	Dec. 20, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 19, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 07, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 25, 2019 USD ($)	May 10, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Entities That Are Considered Variable Interest Entities | joint_ventures			18				11					18	11
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities												$ 24,868,000	$ 85,240,000	$ 116,066,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue												757,042,000	640,267,000	889,309,000
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 366,252,000				$ 431,813,000					366,252,000	431,813,000
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax							$ 2,455,238,000	$ 1,913,353,000	$ 1,599,199,000	$ 1,175,468,000		7,223,966,000	7,143,258,000	5,815,058,000
Funding Commitments to Joint Ventures			38,796,000									38,796,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			1,628,150,000									1,628,150,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments			$ 1,239,493,000									$ 1,239,493,000
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures			41									41
Land sales, net												$ 0	$ 6,331,000	8,621,000
Equity Method Investee [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number Of Unconsolidated Entities That Are Considered Variable Interest Entities | joint_ventures			13				10					13	10
Land Development Joint Ventures [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Home sites sold | home_sites												934	986
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 100,859,000									$ 100,859,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments			88,252,000									$ 88,252,000
rental property joint ventures suburban Philadelphia and Jersey City NJ [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term Debt														$ 189,000,000.0
Debt Instrument, Term														10 years
Amounts borrowed under commitments																				$ 166,300,000
Rental Property Joint Ventures sold fiscal 2018 [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure																			$ 477,500,000
Land development joint venture Houston TX [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of home sites included in acquisition | home_sites												263
rental property joint ventures fiscal 2018 new [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity							$ 166,100,000						$ 166,100,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments			156,100,000									$ 156,100,000
Rental Property Joint Venture Phoenixville, PA [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage												25.00%
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure																		$ 77,800,000
Home Building Joint Ventures, Total [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Home sites sold | Homes_sold												186	100
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue												$ 374,600,000	$ 148,000,000.0
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			133,453,000									133,453,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments			$ 133,453,000									$ 133,453,000
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Real Estate Properties | joint_ventures			25									25
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 1,393,838,000									$ 1,393,838,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments			$ 1,017,788,000									$ 1,017,788,000
Toll Brothers Realty Trust [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage			33.30%									33.30%
Toll Brothers Realty Trust [Member] | Management [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage			33.30%									33.30%
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Five [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 236,500,000									$ 236,500,000
Rental Property Joint Venture Metro New York [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term Debt			110,000,000.0	$ 80,000,000.0							$ 80,000,000.0	$ 110,000,000.0
Debt Instrument, Term												3 years
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			120,000,000.0									$ 120,000,000.0
Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			340,100,000									340,100,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments			$ 39,300,000									$ 39,300,000
rental property joint ventures suburban Philadelphia and Jersey City NJ [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage			25.00%									25.00%								50.00%
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal														$ 26,700,000
Number of Real Estate Properties | joint_ventures														2
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments														$ 54,900,000
Rental Property Joint Ventures sold fiscal 2018 [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal													$ 67,200,000
Number of Real Estate Properties | joint_ventures							3						3
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments													$ 79,100,000
rental property joint ventures fiscal 2018 new [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 65,600,000									$ 65,600,000
Number of Real Estate Properties | joint_ventures							4						4
Rental Property Joint Ventures Boston MA, San Diego CA and Miami FL [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Real Estate Properties | joint_ventures							4						4
Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 48,800,000									$ 48,800,000
Number of Real Estate Properties | joint_ventures			5									5
Land sales, net											$ 9,300,000
Single Family Build to Rent JV [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 1,000,000.0									$ 1,000,000.0
Single Family Build to Rent JV [Member] | Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Funding Commitments to Joint Ventures			60,000,000.0									60,000,000.0
Rental Property Joint Venture Metro New York [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 21,000,000.0									$ 21,000,000.0
Ownership Percentage			50.00%									50.00%
Land Development Joint Ventures [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities												$ 6,160,000	$ 3,392,000	13,007,000
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue												261,677,000	351,397,000	288,440,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments												1,000,000.0	6,000,000.0
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 110,306,000				$ 176,593,000					$ 110,306,000	$ 176,593,000
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures			8									8
Land Development Joint Ventures [Member] | Equity Method Investee [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Home sites sold | home_sites												293	259
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue												$ 137,100,000	$ 153,200,000
Equity Method Investment, Deferred Gain on Sale													1,700,000
Land Development Joint Ventures [Member] | Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Funding Commitments to Joint Ventures			$ 28,586,000									28,586,000
Toll Brothers Realty Trust [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 0									$ 0
Ownership Percentage			33.30%									33.30%
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal												$ 3,900,000	27,700,000
Partners' Capital Account, Distributions												0
Property Management Fee Revenue												1,000,000.0	2,000,000.0	2,000,000.0
Gibraltar Land Banking & Development Joint Ventures [Member] [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 20,500,000									$ 20,500,000
Ownership Percentage			25.00%									25.00%
Number of Joint Ventures | joint_ventures			8									8
Number of JVs formed in the period | joint_ventures												2
Gibraltar Land Banking & Development Joint Ventures [Member] [Member] | Commitment To Advance Or Invest In Affiliates Subsidiaries And Joint Venture [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Funding Commitments to Joint Ventures			$ 100,000,000.0									$ 100,000,000.0
Land development joint venture Houston TX [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$ 5,900,000									$ 5,900,000
Ownership Percentage			50.00%									50.00%
Rental Property Joint Venture Phoenixville, PA [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal												$ 3,800,000
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments												$ 7,400,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture State College PA [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity															$ 79,500,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture Dallas TX [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																	$ 42,000,000.0
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures Northern New Jersey [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																$ 76,000,000.0
Subsequent Event [Member] | Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Five [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Amounts borrowed under commitments		$ 76,600,000
Guarantees, Repayment and Carry Cost, Maximum		76,600,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture State College PA [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities															$ 12,900,000
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate	$ 17,900,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture State College PA [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage															70.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture Dallas TX [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Investments in unconsolidated entities																	$ 11,900,000
Proceeds from Sale of Real Estate		7,700,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture Dallas TX [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage																	50.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures Northern New Jersey [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal	10,000,000.0
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments	16,800,000
In Planning Phase [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | rental_units			10,900									10,900
Lease up Stage [Member] | Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | rental_units			1,700									1,700
Occupied or Ready for Occupancy [Member] | Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | rental_units			2,000									2,000
Asset under Construction [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | rental_units			800									800
Asset under Construction [Member] | Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Units in Real Estate Property | rental_units			4,100									4,100
Line of Credit [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures sold fiscal 2018 [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																			$ 239,600,000
Line of Credit [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture Phoenixville, PA [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity																		$ 47,000,000.0
Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of Real Estate Properties | joint_ventures			5									5
Rental Property Joint Venture State College PA [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire and Develop Real Estate	32,000,000.0
rental property joint ventures fiscal 2018 new [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire and Develop Real Estate													140,000,000.0
Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire and Develop Real Estate												$ 145,100,000
Land development joint venture Houston TX [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Expected Percentage Of Homes To Be Sold To Each Joint Venture Partner			50.00%
Rental Property Joint Ventures Boston MA, San Diego CA and Miami FL [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost			$ 79,600,000									$ 79,600,000
Rental Property Joint Venture Woburn MA [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost							15,900,000						$ 15,900,000
Variable Interest Entity, Qualitative or Quantitative Information, Ownership Percentage													85.00%
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners			15.00%									15.00%
Rental Property Joint Venture Dallas TX [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire and Develop Real Estate		19,000,000.0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets			$ 125,000,000.0									$ 125,000,000.0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Rental Joint Ventures, including Trusts i and II [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets			145,800,000				19,700,000					145,800,000	$ 19,700,000
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity			41,000,000.0				$ 2,800,000					41,000,000.0	2,800,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures Boston MA, San Diego CA and Miami FL [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity			37,900,000									37,900,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture Woburn MA [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets			20,800,000									20,800,000
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity			3,100,000									3,100,000
Land [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax			$ 86,956,000	$ 8,721,000	$ 4,037,000	$ 43,873,000						143,587,000	0	$ 0
Land [Member] | rental property joint ventures fiscal 2018 new [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax													$ 80,300,000
Land [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax												$ 110,000,000.0
Land [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture State College PA [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	$ 22,200,000
Land [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture Dallas TX [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		$ 9,200,000
Minimum [Member] | rental property joint ventures fiscal 2018 new [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage							50.00%						50.00%
Minimum [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage			63.50%									63.50%
Minimum [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage			50.00%									50.00%
Maximum [Member] | rental property joint ventures fiscal 2018 new [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage							75.00%						75.00%
Maximum [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage			75.00%									75.00%
Maximum [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures new fiscal 2019 [Member] | Co-venturer [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Ownership Percentage			98.00%									98.00%
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member] | Equity Method Investee [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 1,530,000,000									$ 1,530,000,000
Amounts borrowed under commitments			1,140,000,000									1,140,000,000
Maximum repapyment and carry cost guarantee obligation for borrowings by JV			239,600,000									239,600,000
Guarantees, Repayment and Carry Cost, Maximum			$ 299,100,000									$ 299,100,000
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture State College PA [Member] | Equity Method Investee [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted															$ 79,500,000
Indirect Guarantee of Indebtedness [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | Rental Property Joint Venture Dallas TX [Member] | Equity Method Investee [Member]
Investments in and Advances to Unconsolidated Entities (Textual) [Abstract]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted																	$ 42,000,000.0