Non-controlling Interest - Ownership of common units in RMCO (Details) - RMCO, LLC - shares	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Shares [Abstract]
Non-controlling unitholders ownership of common units in RMCO	12,559,600	12,559,600
RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. outstanding Class A common stock (equal to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. common units in RMCO	17,746,184	17,696,991
Total number of common stock units in RMCO	30,305,784	30,256,591
Ownership Percentage [Abstract]
Non-controlling unitholders ownership of common units in RMCO as a percentage	41.44%	41.51%
RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. outstanding Class A common stock (equal to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. common units in RMCO	58.56%	58.49%
Total percentage of common stock units	100.00%	100.00%

The noncontrolling interest in net assets of the subsidiary, in number of common stock units owned.

No definition available.

Name:	rmax_MinorityInterestNumberOfStockUnitsOwnedByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	rmax_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, in number of common stock units owned.

No definition available.

Name:	rmax_MinorityInterestNumberOfStockUnitsOwnedByParent
Namespace Prefix:	rmax_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

No definition available.

Name:	rmax_OwnershipPercentageAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	rmax_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Aggregate percentage of subsidiary's common units outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	rmax_PercentageOfCommonUnits
Namespace Prefix:	rmax_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

No definition available.

Number of common units of ownership outstanding of a limited liability company (LLC).

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CommonUnitOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=rmax_RMCOLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: