Non-controlling Interest - Net income reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Weighted average ownership percentage of controlling interest	58.56%	58.49%	58.54%	58.47%
Weighted average ownership percentage of noncontrolling interest	41.44%	41.51%	41.46%	41.53%
Total (as a percentage)	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Income before provision for income taxes attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	$ 11,096	$ 5,992	$ 27,916	$ 25,104
Provision for income taxes attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	(2,957)	(2,275)	(7,146)	(9,389)
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	8,139	3,717	20,770	15,715
Income before provision for income taxes: Non-controlling interest	7,865	4,319	19,812	(17,899)
Provision for income taxes: Non-controlling interest	(463)	(746)	(1,283)	(1,397)
Net income: Non-controlling interest	7,402	3,573	18,529	16,502
Income before provision for income taxes	18,961	10,311	47,728	43,003
Provision for income taxes	(3,420)	(3,021)	(8,429)	(10,786)
Net income	$ 15,541	$ 7,290	39,299	$ 32,217
Non-controlling interest
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Net income			$ 18,529