Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 709,038	$ 906,340	$ 949,896	$ 1,039,060
Marketable securities	218,434	233,572
Restricted cash	47,398	19,760
Inventory	3,767,877	3,416,723
Property, construction and office equipment, net	100,724	99,712
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	143,857	105,576
Mortgage loans receivable	50,527	63,175
Customer deposits held in escrow	31,068	14,859
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	200,292	126,355
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	95,870	69,174
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0	0
Total assets	5,365,085	5,055,246
Liabilities:
Loans payable	103,880	106,556
Senior notes	1,791,942	1,490,972
Mortgage company warehouse loan	45,397	57,409
Customer deposits	128,921	83,824
Accounts payable	106,747	96,817
Accrued expenses	457,274	521,051
Income taxes payable	99,107	106,066
Total liabilities	2,733,268	2,462,695
Equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	399,382	400,382
Retained earnings	2,248,337	2,234,251
Treasury stock, at cost --1,370 shares and 2,946 shares at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	(20,395)	(47,065)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,382)	(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	2,625,629	2,586,353
Noncontrolling interest	6,188	6,198
Total equity	2,631,817	2,592,551
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,365,085	5,055,246
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	28,234
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	146
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,698,419	2,694,419
Total assets	2,726,799	2,694,419
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	63
Income taxes payable	101,107	108,066
Total liabilities	101,170	108,066
Equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	399,382	400,382
Retained earnings	2,248,337	2,234,251
Treasury stock, at cost --1,370 shares and 2,946 shares at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	(20,395)	(47,065)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,382)	(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	2,625,629	2,586,353
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	2,625,629	2,586,353
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,726,799	2,694,419
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	10,354	6,768
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	1,809,042	1,508,550
Total assets	1,819,396	1,515,318
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	1,791,942	1,490,972
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	27,454	24,346
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	1,819,396	1,515,318
Equity:
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Treasury stock, at cost --1,370 shares and 2,946 shares at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	0	0
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	0	0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,819,396	1,515,318
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	638,518	775,300	822,662	930,387
Marketable securities	158,420	233,572
Restricted cash	17,951	19,084
Inventory	3,516,493	2,911,211
Property, construction and office equipment, net	97,575	77,001
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	111,970	74,980
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow	29,273	10,682
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	80,384	86,481
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(1,180,603)	(727,258)
Total assets	3,469,981	3,461,053
Liabilities:
Loans payable	72,875	61,994
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits	124,415	71,388
Accounts payable	106,509	96,645
Accrued expenses	310,077	320,021
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	613,876	550,048
Equity:
Common stock	3,054	3,054
Additional paid-in capital	1,366	1,366
Retained earnings	2,855,029	2,909,487
Treasury stock, at cost --1,370 shares and 2,946 shares at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,344)	(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	2,856,105	2,911,005
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	2,856,105	2,911,005
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,469,981	3,461,053
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	70,520	131,040	127,234	108,673
Marketable securities	60,014
Restricted cash	1,213	676
Inventory	251,384	505,512
Property, construction and office equipment, net	3,149	22,711
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	24,968	26,067
Mortgage loans receivable	50,527	63,175
Customer deposits held in escrow	1,795	4,177
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	119,908	39,874
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	95,870	69,174
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(287,821)	(477,322)
Total assets	391,527	385,084
Liabilities:
Loans payable	31,005	44,562
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan	45,397	57,409
Customer deposits	4,506	12,436
Accounts payable	238	172
Accrued expenses	123,305	178,965
Income taxes payable	(2,000)	(2,000)
Total liabilities	202,451	291,544
Equity:
Common stock	2,003	2,003
Additional paid-in capital	2,734	2,734
Retained earnings	178,189	82,605
Treasury stock, at cost --1,370 shares and 2,946 shares at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(38)
Total stockholders' equity	182,888	87,342
Noncontrolling interest	6,188	6,198
Total equity	189,076	93,540
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	391,527	385,084
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(3,581)	(2,239)
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(3,039,037)	(2,998,389)
Total assets	(3,042,618)	(3,000,628)
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(3,625)	(2,281)
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	(3,625)	(2,281)
Equity:
Common stock	(5,057)	(5,057)
Additional paid-in capital	(4,100)	(4,100)
Retained earnings	(3,033,218)	(2,992,092)
Treasury stock, at cost --1,370 shares and 2,946 shares at April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,382	2,902
Total stockholders' equity	(3,038,993)	(2,998,347)
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	(3,038,993)	(2,998,347)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (3,042,618)	$ (3,000,628)