Impacts of Adopting New Revenue Recognition - Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net income	$ 11,066	$ 15,541	$ 14,591	$ 9,167	$ (403)	$ 7,290	$ 15,539	$ 9,388	$ 50,365	$ 31,815	$ 46,848
Change in cumulative translation adjustment									(253)	1,037	146
Comprehensive income									50,112	32,852	46,994
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest									23,199	22,108	24,715
Comprehensive income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., net of tax									$ 26,913	10,744	22,279
ASU 2014-09 | As previously reported
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net income										35,179	47,226
Change in cumulative translation adjustment										1,074	165
Comprehensive income										36,253	47,391
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest										22,895	24,918
Comprehensive income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., net of tax										13,358	22,473
ASU 2014-09 | Adjustments
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Net income										(3,364)	(378)
Change in cumulative translation adjustment										(37)	(19)
Comprehensive income										(3,401)	(397)
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest										(787)	(203)
Comprehensive income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., net of tax										$ (2,614)	$ (194)