Non-controlling Interest - Net income reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Weighted average ownership percentage of noncontrolling interest	40.80%			41.30%			41.00%	41.40%
Total (as a percentage)	100.00%			100.00%			100.00%	100.00%
Income before provision for income taxes: Non-controlling interest	$ 3,633			$ 8,565			$ 9,896	$ 20,763
Income before provision for income taxes	8,775			20,717			24,485	50,201
Provision for income taxes: Non-controlling interest	(462)			(474)			(1,631)	(1,261)
Provision for income taxes	(2,051)			(3,453)			(6,547)	(8,547)
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	3,553			9,173			9,673	22,152
Net income: Non-controlling interest	3,171			8,091			8,265	19,502
Net income	$ 6,724	$ 5,924	$ 5,290	$ 17,264	$ 16,133	$ 8,257	$ 17,938	$ 41,654
RMCO, LLC
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Weighted average ownership percentage of controlling interest	59.20%			58.70%			59.00%	58.60%
Income before provision for income taxes attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	$ 5,142			$ 12,152			$ 14,589	$ 29,438
Provision for income taxes attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	(1,589)			(2,979)			(4,916)	(7,286)
Net income attributable to RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.	$ 3,553			$ 9,173			$ 9,673	$ 22,152