Earnings Per Share and Dividends - Reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in basic and diluted EPS calculations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Numerator
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	$ 6,274	$ 8,139	$ 7,648	$ 4,983	$ (5,477)	$ 3,717	$ 7,458	$ 4,540	$ 27,044	$ 10,238	$ 22,221
Denominator for basic net income per share of common stock
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding	17,748,745	17,746,184	17,746,042	17,709,095	17,696,991	17,696,991	17,696,842	17,662,842	17,737,649	17,688,533	17,628,741
Denominator for diluted net income per share of common stock
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding	17,748,745	17,746,184	17,746,042	17,709,095	17,696,991	17,696,991	17,696,842	17,662,842	17,737,649	17,688,533	17,628,741
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding, diluted	17,771,180	17,771,212	17,769,641	17,762,133	17,747,744	17,737,786	17,723,802	17,716,013	17,767,499	17,731,800	17,677,768
Earnings per share of Class A common stock
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. per share of Class A common stock, basic	$ 0.35	$ 0.46	$ 0.43	$ 0.28	$ (0.31)	$ 0.21	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ 1.52	$ 0.58	$ 1.26
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. per share of Class A common stock, diluted	$ 0.35	$ 0.46	$ 0.43	$ 0.28	$ (0.31)	$ 0.21	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ 1.52	$ 0.58	$ 1.26
Common Class A
Numerator
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.									$ 27,044	$ 10,238	$ 22,221
Denominator for basic net income per share of common stock
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding									17,737,649	17,688,533	17,628,741
Denominator for diluted net income per share of common stock
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding									17,737,649	17,688,533	17,628,741
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding, diluted									17,767,499	17,731,800	17,677,768
Earnings per share of Class A common stock
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. per share of Class A common stock, basic									$ 1.52	$ 0.58	$ 1.26
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. per share of Class A common stock, diluted									$ 1.52	$ 0.58	$ 1.26
Employee Stock Option | Common Class A
Add dilutive effect of the following:
Dilutive effect											5,059
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Common Class A
Add dilutive effect of the following:
Dilutive effect									29,850	43,267	43,968