Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 CF) (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)			$ 61,643	$ 42,108	$ 75,729	$ 24,752
Depreciation and amortization					16,523	17,123
Stock-based compensation					12,227	10,147
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities			0	0	(1,621)	39,600
Income from unconsolidated entities					(17,727)	(28,595)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities					4,028	7,315
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate					(12,725)	(1,187)
Deferred tax benefit					1,477	4,329
Deferred tax valuation allowances					(1,477)	(4,329)
Inventory impairments and write-offs			3,120	16,812	13,249	34,861
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments					(244)	628
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt			0	3,414	0	3,414
Gain on marketable securities					(40)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory					(222,421)	(208,204)
Origination of mortgage loans					(434,780)	(457,383)
Sale of mortgage loans					426,559	504,724
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash					(27,248)	36,681
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets					(22,175)	(2,955)
Increase in customer deposits					41,777	18,090
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses					(58,865)	(37,773)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable						141,590
Decrease in income taxes payable					(26,342)	(56,461)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities					(234,096)	46,367
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net					(7,318)	(6,927)
Purchase of marketable securities					(317,569)	(420,087)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities					270,503	318,372
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities					(195,813)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities					33,231	26,285
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate					(30,090)	(42,141)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate					14,412	101
Acquisition of a business		(144,700)			(144,746)
Net cash used in investing activities					(377,390)	(124,397)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes	296,200				296,227
Proceeds from loans payable					675,481	666,659
Principal payments of loans payable					(689,242)	(715,131)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt						(48,437)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans					24,515	23,731
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests						2,678
Purchase of treasury stock					(384)	(463)
Net cash used in financing activities					306,597	(70,963)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents					(304,889)	(148,993)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		906,340			906,340	1,039,060
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			601,451	890,067	601,451	890,067
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)			61,643	42,108	75,729	24,752
Depreciation and amortization					15
Stock-based compensation					12,227	10,147
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Income from unconsolidated entities
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Deferred tax benefit					1,477	4,329
Deferred tax valuation allowances					(1,477)	(4,329)
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt
Gain on marketable securities
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory
Origination of mortgage loans
Sale of mortgage loans
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash					(28,188)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets					(54,988)	(141,264)
Increase in customer deposits
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses					(2,584)	(2,032)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable						141,590
Decrease in income taxes payable					(26,342)	(56,461)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities					(24,131)	(23,268)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net
Purchase of marketable securities
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities					0	0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans					24,515	23,731
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock					(384)	(463)
Net cash used in financing activities					24,131	23,268
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents					0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period						0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			0	0	0	0
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)			0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization					2,666	2,416
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Income from unconsolidated entities
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Deferred tax benefit
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt				3,414		3,414
Gain on marketable securities
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory
Origination of mortgage loans
Sale of mortgage loans
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets					(312,587)	40,368
Increase in customer deposits
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses					13,694	2,239
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities					(296,227)	48,437
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net
Purchase of marketable securities
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities					0	0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes					296,227
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Early Repayment of Senior Debt						(48,437)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock
Net cash used in financing activities					296,227	(48,437)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents					0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			0	0	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)			61,655	41,395	75,752	24,701
Depreciation and amortization					13,640	14,055
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities						10,000
Income from unconsolidated entities					(13,858)	(16,725)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities					4,028	7,315
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Deferred tax benefit
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs					13,249	34,861
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt
Gain on marketable securities					(40)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory					(141,871)	(85,962)
Origination of mortgage loans
Sale of mortgage loans
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash					1,126	38,584
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets					16,690	(202,417)
Increase in customer deposits					46,224	7,067
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses					(19,259)	75,257
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities					(4,319)	(93,264)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net					(6,447)	(3,756)
Purchase of marketable securities					(257,431)	(420,087)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities					270,503	318,372
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities					(112,717)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities					32,172	40,485
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Acquisition of a business					(144,746)
Net cash used in investing activities					(218,666)	(64,986)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable					(18,944)	(11,377)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock
Net cash used in financing activities					(18,944)	(11,377)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents					(241,929)	(169,627)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		775,300			775,300	930,387
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			533,371	760,760	533,371	760,760
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)			6,142	24,868	23,244	15,458
Depreciation and amortization					202	652
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities					(1,621)	29,600
Income from unconsolidated entities					(3,869)	(11,870)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate					(12,725)	(1,187)
Deferred tax benefit
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments					(244)	628
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt
Gain on marketable securities
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory					(80,550)	(122,242)
Origination of mortgage loans					(434,780)	(457,383)
Sale of mortgage loans					426,559	504,724
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash					(186)	(1,903)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets					225,512	259,947
Increase in customer deposits					(4,447)	11,023
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses					(46,514)	(112,985)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities					90,581	114,462
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net					(871)	(3,171)
Purchase of marketable securities					(60,138)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities					(83,096)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities					1,059	(14,200)
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate					(30,090)	(42,141)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate					14,412	101
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities					(158,724)	(59,411)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable					675,481	666,659
Principal payments of loans payable					(670,298)	(703,754)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests						2,678
Purchase of treasury stock
Net cash used in financing activities					5,183	(34,417)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents					(62,960)	20,634
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		131,040			131,040	108,673
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			68,080	129,307	68,080	129,307
Eliminations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)			(67,797)	(66,263)	(98,996)	(40,159)
Depreciation and amortization
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Income from unconsolidated entities
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Deferred tax benefit
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt
Gain on marketable securities
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory
Origination of mortgage loans
Sale of mortgage loans
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets					103,198	40,411
Increase in customer deposits
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses					(4,202)	(252)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities					0	0
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net
Purchase of marketable securities
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities					0	0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock
Net cash used in financing activities					0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents					0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0