Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 26, 2018	Nov. 15, 2017	Dec. 15, 2016	Dec. 01, 2016	Sep. 12, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016	Feb. 22, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Issuance of Class A common stock, equity-based compensation plans, value										$ 101
Purchase Price Allocation
Goodwill								$ 150,684	$ 135,213	126,633
Acquisition- related expense								1,634	5,889	1,899
Increase to goodwill								700	(3,865)
Pro Forma Information
Total revenue								213,892	205,059	192,734
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.								$ 26,352	$ 7,628	$ 24,929
Basic earnings per common share								$ 1.49	$ 0.43	$ 1.41
Diluted earnings per common share								$ 1.48	$ 0.43	$ 1.41
Booj Llc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration	$ 26,300
Issuance of Class A common stock, equity-based compensation plans, value	10,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash and cash equivalents	362
Other current assets	367
Property and equipment	625
Software	7,400
Trademarks	500
Non-compete agreement	1,200
Customer relationships	800
Franchise agreements	1,589
Other assets, net of current portion	336
Total assets acquired, excluding goodwill	13,179
Current portion of debt	(606)
Other current liabilities	(557)
Debt, net of current portion	(805)
Total liabilities assumed	(1,968)
Goodwill	15,039
Total purchase price	26,250
Acquisition- related expense	846
Revenue since acquisition date	$ 5,586
Remax Of Northern Illinois Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration		$ 35,720
Purchase Price Allocation
Franchise agreements		22,800
Goodwill		12,920
Total purchase price		$ 35,720
Decrease to franchise agreements								$ (700)
Increase to goodwill								$ 700
RE/MAX Regional Services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration			$ 50,400
Purchase Price Allocation
Franchise agreements			30,700
Goodwill			19,700
Total purchase price			$ 50,400
RE/MAX of New Jersey
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration				$ 45,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash and cash equivalents				335
Franchise agreements				29,700
Goodwill				15,300
Other liabilities				(335)
Total purchase price				$ 45,000
RE/MAX of Alaska, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration						$ 1,500
Purchase Price Allocation
Franchise agreements						529
Goodwill						971
Total purchase price						$ 1,500
Re/Max of New York, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration							$ 8,500
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash and cash equivalents							131
Franchise agreements							5,000
Other assets, net of current portion							340
Goodwill							3,029
Total purchase price							$ 8,500
Full House Mortgage Connection, Inc.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration					$ 8,000
Purchase Price Allocation
Non-compete agreement					2,500
Goodwill					11,800
Total purchase price					14,300
Contingent consideration liability					$ 6,300
RE Max Of Northern Illinois RE Max Regional Services RE Max Of New Jersey Full House RE Max Of Alaska RE Max Of New York [Member]
Purchase Price Allocation
Cash and cash equivalents									$ 466
Franchise agreements									88,729
Non-compete agreement									2,500
Other assets, net of current portion									340
Goodwill									63,720
Other liabilities									(335)
Total purchase price									$ 155,420