Revenue - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net income	$ 15,541	$ 7,290	$ 39,299	$ 32,217
Change in cumulative translation adjustment	90	507	(77)	947
Comprehensive income	15,631	7,797	39,222	33,164
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	7,435	3,859	18,492	17,035
Comprehensive income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., net of tax	$ 8,196	3,938	$ 20,730	16,129
ASU 2014-09 | As previously reported
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net income		7,537		33,245
Change in cumulative translation adjustment		536		999
Comprehensive income		8,073		34,244
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		3,987		17,500
Comprehensive income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., net of tax		4,086		16,744
ASU 2014-09 | Adjustments
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net income		(247)		(1,028)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment		(29)		(52)
Comprehensive income		(276)		(1,080)
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		(128)		(465)
Comprehensive income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., net of tax		$ (148)		$ (615)