Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 543,082	$ 811,311	$ 1,057,804	$ 585,900	$ 510,183	$ 743,401	$ 988,163	$ 546,441	$ 2,998,097	$ 2,788,188	$ 2,570,803
Gross profit	160,442	235,003	308,655	166,073	145,398	216,606	289,664	153,621	870,173	805,289	741,087
Net income	16,811	69,261	117,049	31,339	25,665	48,783	94,620	22,270	234,461	191,339	148,603
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	$ 16,811	$ 69,261	$ 117,049	$ 31,339	$ 25,665	$ 48,783	$ 94,903	$ 22,281	$ 234,461	$ 191,633	$ 148,955
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 1.71	$ 2.89	$ 0.78	$ 0.64	$ 1.20	$ 2.30	$ 0.54	$ 5.82	$ 4.69	$ 3.56
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 1.66	$ 2.80	$ 0.75	$ 0.62	$ 1.16	$ 2.21	$ 0.52	$ 5.62	$ 4.51	$ 3.47