Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 IS) (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	$ 632,826	$ 554,319	$ 373,681	$ 321,955	$ 427,785	$ 394,305	$ 319,675	$ 334,116	$ 1,882,781	$ 1,475,881	$ 1,494,771
Cost of revenues									1,532,095	1,260,770	1,376,558
Selling, general and administrative									287,257	261,355	263,224
Interest expense									0	1,504	22,751
Total									1,819,352	1,523,629	1,662,533
Loss from operations									63,429	(47,748)	(167,762)
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities									23,592	(1,194)	23,470
Other income - net									25,921	23,403	28,313
Expenses related to early retirement of debt										(3,827)	(1,208)
Loss from subsidiaries									0	0	0
Income (loss) before income tax benefit	60,749	42,952	15,649	(6,408)	15,277	3,888	(31,484)	(17,047)	112,942	(29,366)	(117,187)
Income tax benefit									(374,204)	(69,161)	(113,813)
Net income (loss)	411,417	61,643	16,872	(2,786)	15,043	42,108	(20,773)	3,417	487,146	39,795	(3,374)
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative									95	137	77
Interest expense
Total									95	137	77
Loss from operations									(95)	(137)	(77)
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities
Other income - net									56
Expenses related to early retirement of debt
Loss from subsidiaries									112,981	(29,229)	(117,110)
Income (loss) before income tax benefit									112,942	(29,366)	(117,187)
Income tax benefit									(374,204)	(69,161)	(113,813)
Net income (loss)									487,146	39,795	(3,374)
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative									2,965	1,345	1,365
Interest expense									115,141	103,604	106,411
Total									118,106	104,949	107,776
Loss from operations									(118,106)	(104,949)	(107,776)
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities
Other income - net									116,835	108,776	108,520
Expenses related to early retirement of debt										(3,827)	(744)
Loss from subsidiaries
Income (loss) before income tax benefit									(1,271)	0	0
Income tax benefit
Net income (loss)									(1,271)	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues									1,880,908	1,445,148	1,468,678
Cost of revenues									1,523,074	1,217,512	1,325,092
Selling, general and administrative									307,292	270,605	261,314
Interest expense										1,504	22,751
Total									1,830,366	1,489,621	1,609,157
Loss from operations									50,542	(44,473)	(140,479)
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities									16,035	6,129	5,905
Other income - net									19,569	14,489	1,766
Expenses related to early retirement of debt											(464)
Loss from subsidiaries									26,835	(5,374)	16,162
Income (loss) before income tax benefit									112,981	(29,229)	(117,110)
Income tax benefit									25,805	(68,837)	(124,695)
Net income (loss)									87,176	39,608	7,585
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues									79,850	105,364	77,570
Cost of revenues									22,736	57,617	63,279
Selling, general and administrative									41,055	42,131	22,583
Interest expense									576
Total									64,367	99,748	85,862
Loss from operations									15,483	5,616	(8,292)
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities									7,557	(7,323)	17,565
Other income - net									3,795	(3,667)	6,889
Expenses related to early retirement of debt
Loss from subsidiaries
Income (loss) before income tax benefit									26,835	(5,374)	16,162
Income tax benefit									6,129	(12,656)	15,735
Net income (loss)									20,706	7,282	427
Eliminations [Member]
Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues									(77,977)	(74,631)	(51,477)
Cost of revenues									(13,715)	(14,359)	(11,813)
Selling, general and administrative									(64,150)	(52,863)	(22,115)
Interest expense									(115,717)	(103,604)	(106,411)
Total									(193,582)	(170,826)	(140,339)
Loss from operations									115,605	96,195	88,862
Other [Abstract]
Income (loss) from unconsolidated entities
Other income - net									(114,334)	(96,195)	(88,862)
Expenses related to early retirement of debt
Loss from subsidiaries									(139,816)	34,603	100,948
Income (loss) before income tax benefit									(138,545)	34,603	100,948
Income tax benefit									(31,934)	81,493	108,960
Net income (loss)									$ (106,611)	$ (46,890)	$ (8,012)