Quarterly Financial Information - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Total revenue		$ 49,504	$ 49,377	$ 48,819	$ 48,229	$ 44,422	$ 45,559	$ 43,404	$ 42,917	$ 195,929	$ 176,302	$ 176,868
Total operating expenses		336	36,569	26,022	32,777	30,052	24,417	22,955	27,061	95,704	104,485	103,288
Operating income		49,168	12,808	22,797	15,452	14,370	21,142	20,449	15,856	100,225	71,817	73,580
Total other expenses, net		(2,541)	(2,180)	(2,398)	(2,351)	(2,876)	(2,204)	(2,036)	(2,202)	(9,470)	(9,318)	(10,775)
Income before provision for income taxes		46,627	10,628	20,399	13,101	11,494	18,938	18,413	13,654	90,755	62,499	62,805
Provision for income taxes		(44,693)	(3,091)	(4,762)	(3,030)	(3,097)	(4,632)	(4,285)	(3,259)	(55,576)	(15,273)	(12,030)
Net income		1,934	7,537	15,637	10,071	8,397	14,306	14,128	10,395	35,179	47,226	50,775
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest (note 3)		5,395	3,702	8,108	5,159	4,540	7,520	7,314	5,456	22,364	24,830	34,363
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.		$ (3,461)	$ 3,835	$ 7,529	$ 4,912	$ 3,857	$ 6,786	$ 6,814	$ 4,939	$ 12,815	$ 22,396	$ 16,412
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. per share of Class A common stock
Basic		$ (0.20)	$ 0.22	$ 0.43	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.38	$ 0.39	$ 0.28	$ 0.72	$ 1.27	$ 1.30
Diluted		$ (0.20)	$ 0.22	$ 0.42	$ 0.28	$ 0.22	$ 0.38	$ 0.39	$ 0.28	$ 0.72	$ 1.27	$ 1.28
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding
Basic		17,696,991	17,696,991	17,696,842	17,662,842	17,647,930	17,645,696	17,636,590	17,584,351	17,688,533	17,628,741	12,671,051
Diluted		17,747,744	17,737,786	17,723,802	17,716,013	17,706,070	17,691,641	17,668,995	17,638,667	17,731,800	17,677,768	12,829,214
U.S. statutory tax rate										35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Forecast
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding
U.S. statutory tax rate	21.00%
Common Class A
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. per share of Class A common stock
Basic										$ 0.72	$ 1.27	$ 1.30
Diluted										$ 0.72	$ 1.27	$ 1.28
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding
Basic										17,688,533	17,628,741	12,671,051
Diluted										17,731,800	17,677,768	12,829,214