Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 601,451	$ 906,340	$ 890,067	$ 1,039,060
Marketable securities	275,928	233,572
Restricted cash	47,008	19,760
Inventory	3,784,705	3,416,723
Property, construction and office equipment, net	101,216	99,712
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	132,967	105,576
Mortgage loans receivable	72,544	63,175
Customer deposits held in escrow	30,731	14,859
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	311,481	126,355
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	98,241	69,174
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0	0
Total assets	5,456,272	5,055,246
Liabilities:
Loans payable	106,399	106,556
Senior notes	1,792,453	1,490,972
Mortgage company warehouse loan	63,128	57,409
Customer deposits	141,523	83,824
Accounts payable	106,517	96,817
Accrued expenses	464,722	521,051
Income taxes payable	79,724	106,066
Total liabilities	2,754,466	2,462,695
Equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	397,302	400,382
Retained earnings	2,309,980	2,234,251
Treasury stock, at cost --707 shares and 2,946 shares at July 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	(10,211)	(47,065)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,137)	(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	2,695,621	2,586,353
Noncontrolling interest	6,185	6,198
Total equity	2,701,806	2,592,551
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,456,272	5,055,246
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	28,188
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	203
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	2,752,091	2,694,419
Total assets	2,780,482	2,694,419
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Income taxes payable	81,724	108,066
Total liabilities	81,724	108,066
Equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,687
Additional paid-in capital	397,302	400,382
Retained earnings	2,309,980	2,234,251
Treasury stock, at cost --707 shares and 2,946 shares at July 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively	(10,211)	(47,065)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	2,698,758	2,586,353
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	2,698,758	2,586,353
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,780,482	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	9,943	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	1,820,550	1,508,550
Total assets	1,830,493	1,515,318
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes	1,792,453	1,490,972
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	38,040	24,346
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	1,830,493	1,515,318
Equity:
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Treasury stock, at cost --707 shares and 2,946 shares at July 31, 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	1,830,493	1,515,318
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	533,371	775,300	760,760	930,387
Marketable securities	215,809	233,572
Restricted cash	17,958	19,084
Inventory	3,555,007	2,911,211
Property, construction and office equipment, net	98,131	77,001
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	77,334	74,980
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow	28,501	10,682
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	72,781	86,481
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(1,038,874)	(727,258)
Total assets	3,560,018	3,461,053
Liabilities:
Loans payable	75,747	61,994
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits	135,481	71,388
Accounts payable	106,543	96,645
Accrued expenses	304,522	320,021
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	622,293	550,048
Equity:
Common stock	48	3,054
Additional paid-in capital		1,366
Retained earnings	2,940,796	2,909,487
Treasury stock, at cost --707 shares and 2,946 shares at July 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(3,119)	(2,902)
Total stockholders' equity	2,937,725	2,911,005
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	2,937,725	2,911,005
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,560,018	3,461,053
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	68,080	131,040	129,307	108,673
Marketable securities	60,119
Restricted cash	862	676
Inventory	229,698	505,512
Property, construction and office equipment, net	3,085	22,711
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	58,507	26,067
Mortgage loans receivable	72,544	63,175
Customer deposits held in escrow	2,230	4,177
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	238,702	39,874
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	98,241	69,174
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(429,597)	(477,322)
Total assets	402,471	385,084
Liabilities:
Loans payable	30,652	44,562
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan	63,128	57,409
Customer deposits	6,042	12,436
Accounts payable	(26)	172
Accrued expenses	133,549	178,965
Income taxes payable	(2,000)	(2,000)
Total liabilities	231,345	291,544
Equity:
Common stock	3,006	2,003
Additional paid-in capital	1,734	2,734
Retained earnings	160,219	82,605
Treasury stock, at cost --707 shares and 2,946 shares at July 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(18)
Total stockholders' equity	164,941	87,342
Noncontrolling interest	6,185	6,198
Total equity	171,126	93,540
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	402,471	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	(13,020)	(2,239)
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(2)
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(3,104,170)	(2,998,389)
Total assets	(3,117,192)	(3,000,628)
Liabilities:
Loans payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(11,389)	(2,281)
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	(11,389)	(2,281)
Equity:
Common stock	(3,054)	(5,057)
Additional paid-in capital	(1,734)	(4,100)
Retained earnings	(3,101,015)	(2,992,092)
Treasury stock, at cost --707 shares and 2,946 shares at July 31, 2012 and October 31, 2011, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		2,902
Total stockholders' equity	(3,105,803)	(2,998,347)
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	(3,105,803)	(2,998,347)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (3,117,192)	$ (3,000,628)