Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 117,049	$ 94,620	$ 148,388	$ 116,891
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	283	0	294
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	$ 117,049	$ 94,903	$ 148,388	$ 117,185
Weighted average shares outstanding: [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	40,453	41,349	40,413	41,271
Effect of dilutive securities: [Abstract]
Stock options and employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	1,361	1,636	1,427	1,666
Diluted (in shares)	41,814	42,985	41,840	42,937
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.89	$ 2.30	$ 3.67	$ 2.84
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.80	$ 2.21	$ 3.55	$ 2.73
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from diluted earnings per share computations (in shares)	0	0	0	108