Acquisitions and Dispositions - Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($)							3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 15, 2017	Dec. 15, 2016	Dec. 01, 2016	Sep. 12, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016	Feb. 22, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Purchase Price Allocation
Goodwill							$ 123,013,000		$ 123,013,000		$ 126,633,000
Finalized accounting goodwill
Decrease in goodwill									(3,865,000)
Pro Forma Information
Total revenue								$ 48,781,000		$ 141,073,000
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.								$ 7,090,000		$ 18,165,000
Basic earnings per common share								$ 0.40		$ 1.03
Diluted earnings per common share								$ 0.40		$ 1.03
Professional fees and debt extinguishment costs related to amendment of credit facility										$ 1,000,000
RE/MAX Regional Services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration		$ 50,400,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Franchise agreements		30,700,000
Goodwill		19,700,000
Total purchase price		$ 50,400,000
RE/MAX of New Jersey
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration			$ 45,000,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash and cash equivalents			335,000
Franchise agreements			29,700,000
Goodwill			15,300,000
Other liabilities			(335,000)
Total purchase price			$ 45,000,000
Reduction in depreciation and amortization							765,000		765,000
Re Max Regional Services And Re Max Of New Jersey Inc [Member]
Purchase Price Allocation
Reduction in depreciation and amortization							765,000
Finalized accounting goodwill
Decrease in goodwill							(4,200,000)
Finalized accounting franchise agreements
Increase in franchise agreements							4,200,000
Full House Mortgage Connection, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration				$ 8,000,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Non-compete agreement				2,500,000
Goodwill				11,800,000
Total purchase price				14,300,000
Contingent consideration liability				$ 6,300,000
RE/MAX of Alaska, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration					$ 1,500,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Franchise agreements					529,000
Goodwill					971,000
Total purchase price					$ 1,500,000
Re/Max of New York, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration						$ 8,500,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash and cash equivalents						131,000
Franchise agreements						5,000,000
Other assets						340,000
Goodwill						3,029,000
Total purchase price						$ 8,500,000
Re/Max Of Georgia, Re/Max Of Kentucky And Tennessee, Re/Max Of Southern Ohio, Re/Max Of New Jersey, Full House, Re/Max Of New York And Re/Max Of Alaska
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash and cash equivalents							466,000		466,000
Franchise agreements							65,929,000		65,929,000
Non-compete agreement							2,500,000		2,500,000
Other assets							340,000		340,000
Goodwill							50,800,000		50,800,000
Other liabilities							(335,000)		(335,000)
Total purchase price							$ 119,700,000		$ 119,700,000
Re/Max Of Northern Illinois Inc. | Subsequent Event
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 35,720,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Franchise agreements	23,500,000
Goodwill	12,220,000
Total purchase price	$ 35,720,000