Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained (Deficit) Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		46,304,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 281,623	$ 46	$ 276,334	$ 5,377	$ (134)
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	97,330	0	0	97,330	0
Foreign currency translation	2,013	0	0	0	2,013
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	1,033	$ 0	0	0	1,033
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(1,810,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(96,179)	$ (2)	0	(96,177)	0
Share-based compensation	8,150	$ 0	8,150	0	0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		885,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	26,020	$ 1	26,019	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	(33,808)	$ 0	0	(33,808)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		45,379,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	286,182	$ 45	310,503	(27,278)	2,912
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	110,692	0	0	110,692	0
Foreign currency translation	(6,271)	0	0	0	(6,271)
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	(303)	$ 0	0	0	(303)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(2,421,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(136,466)	$ (2)	0	(136,464)	0
Share-based compensation	9,065	$ 0	9,065	0	0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		553,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	19,053	$ 1	19,052	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	$ (37,600)	$ 0	0	(37,600)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	43,511,093	43,511,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 244,352	$ 44	338,620	(90,650)	(3,662)
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	128,275	0	0	128,275	0
Foreign currency translation	(9,046)	0	0	0	(9,046)
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	(1,021)	$ 0	0	0	(1,021)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(1,448,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(99,219)	$ (2)	0	(99,217)	0
Share-based compensation	9,543	$ 0	9,543	0	0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		648,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	25,976	$ 1	25,975	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	$ (43,117)	$ 0	0	(43,117)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	42,711,016	42,711,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 255,743	$ 43	$ 374,138	$ (104,709)	$ (13,729)