Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income	$ 2,579	$ 39,403	$ 77,809	$ 8,433	$ (1,979)	$ 34,958	$ 73,863	$ 4,188	$ 128,224	$ 111,030	$ 97,330
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(51)	338	0
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	$ 2,486	$ 39,447	$ 77,924	$ 8,419	$ (2,195)	$ 34,836	$ 73,863	$ 4,188	$ 128,275	$ 110,692	$ 97,330
Weighted average shares outstanding [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)									43,105	44,281	46,282
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Stock options and employee stock purchase plan (in shares)									1,149	1,160	1,248
Diluted (in shares)									44,254	45,441	47,530
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.92	$ 1.80	$ 0.19	$ (0.05)	$ 0.80	$ 1.65	$ 0.09	$ 2.98	$ 2.50	$ 2.10
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.90	$ 1.75	$ 0.19	$ (0.05)	$ 0.78	$ 1.61	$ 0.09	$ 2.90	$ 2.44	$ 2.05
Anti-dilutive stock options whose exercise prices were higher than the common stock's average market price during the period (in shares)									0	169	0