Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 CF) (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	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
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
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)
Depreciation and amortization										22,586	23,142	20,044
Stock-based compensation										15,575	12,494	11,677
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities										(2,311)	40,870	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										(5,776)		(4,954)
Income from unconsolidated entities										(21,281)	(39,676)	(23,470)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities										5,258	12,081	10,297
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate										(12,444)	(5,113)
Change in Deferred Tax Asset										41,810	(18,188)	60,697
Deferred tax valuation allowances										(394,718)	18,188	(60,697)
Inventory impairments and write-offs										14,739	51,837	115,258
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments										(670)	475	(970)
Gain on marketable securities										(40)
Expenses related to early retirement of debt											3,827	1,208
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory										(195,948)	(215,738)	(140,344)
Origination of mortgage loans										(651,618)	(630,294)	(628,154)
Sale of mortgage loans										629,397	659,610	579,221
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash										(27,516)	41,146	(60,906)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets										(33,922)	(11,522)	(3,115)
Increase in customer deposits										44,383	13,175	(15,182)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses										(58,537)	(28,624)	(38,598)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable										0	141,590	20,250
Decrease in income taxes payable										(25,075)	(56,225)	14,828
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities										(168,962)	52,850	(146,284)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net										(14,495)	(9,553)	(4,830)
Purchase of marketable securities										(579,958)	(452,864)	(157,962)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities										368,253	408,831	60,000
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities										(217,160)	(132)	(58,286)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities										38,368	43,309	9,696
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate										(30,090)	(66,867)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate										16,707	2,806
Acquisition of a business	(144,700)									(144,746)
Net cash used in investing activities										(563,121)	(74,470)	(151,382)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes										578,696
Proceeds from loans payable										1,002,934	921,251	927,233
Principal payments of loans payable										(1,016,081)	(952,621)	(1,316,514)
Repayments of Subordinated Debt												(47,872)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt											(58,837)	(46,114)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans										33,747	25,531	7,589
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										5,776		4,954
Purchase of treasury stock										(505)	(49,102)	(588)
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests											2,678	320
Net cash used in financing activities										604,567	(111,100)	(470,992)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents										(127,516)	(132,720)	(768,658)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	906,340				906,340				1,039,060	906,340	1,039,060	1,807,718
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		778,824				906,340				778,824	906,340	1,039,060
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)										487,146	39,795	(3,374)
Depreciation and amortization										22		28
Stock-based compensation										15,575	12,494	11,677
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										(5,776)		(4,954)
Income from unconsolidated entities
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Change in Deferred Tax Asset										41,810	(18,188)	60,697
Deferred tax valuation allowances										(394,718)	18,188	(60,697)
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gain on marketable securities
Expenses related to early retirement of debt
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory
Origination of mortgage loans
Sale of mortgage loans
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash										(28,268)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets										(127,150)	(116,370)	(50,136)
Increase in customer deposits
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses										(2,584)	2,287	(274)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable											141,590	20,250
Decrease in income taxes payable										(25,075)	(56,225)	14,828
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities										(39,018)	23,571	(11,955)
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	0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Subordinated Debt
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans										33,747	25,531	7,589
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										5,776		4,954
Purchase of treasury stock										(505)	(49,102)	(588)
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Net cash used in financing activities										39,018	(23,571)	11,955
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents										0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0				0				0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		0				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)										(1,271)	0	0
Depreciation and amortization										5,036	3,210	3,262
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Income from unconsolidated entities
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Change in Deferred Tax Asset
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gain on marketable securities
Expenses related to early retirement of debt											3,827	744
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										(585,591)	53,557	36,330
Increase in customer deposits
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses										3,130	(1,757)	5,778
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities										(578,696)	58,837	46,114
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	0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes										578,696
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Subordinated Debt
Early Repayment of Senior Debt											(58,837)	(46,114)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Net cash used in financing activities										578,696	(58,837)	(46,114)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents										0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0				0				0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		0				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)										87,176	39,608	7,585
Depreciation and amortization										18,459	19,343	15,961
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities										(2,311)	15,170
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Income from unconsolidated entities										(13,724)	(21,299)	(5,773)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities										5,258	12,747	10,297
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Change in Deferred Tax Asset
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs										14,739	51,837	107,508
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gain on marketable securities										(40)
Expenses related to early retirement of debt												464
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory										(111,788)	(89,869)	(16,730)
Origination of mortgage loans
Sale of mortgage loans
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash										1,523	41,822	(60,906)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets										190,977	(267,889)	(143,435)
Increase in customer deposits										48,157	1,677	(9,713)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses										5,363	80,257	(133,422)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities										243,789	(116,596)	(228,164)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net										(13,706)	(6,658)	(4,750)
Purchase of marketable securities										(519,737)	(452,864)	(157,962)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities										368,253	408,831	60,000
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities										(3,637)	(70)	(28,493)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities										32,659	23,859	9,696
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										(280,914)	(26,902)	(121,509)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable										(26,800)	(11,589)	(372,419)
Repayments of Subordinated Debt												(47,872)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Net cash used in financing activities										(26,800)	(11,589)	(420,291)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents										(63,925)	(155,087)	(769,964)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	775,300				775,300				930,387	775,300	930,387	1,700,351
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		711,375				775,300				711,375	775,300	930,387
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)										20,706	7,282	427
Depreciation and amortization										340	589	793
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities											25,700
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Income from unconsolidated entities										(7,557)	(18,377)	(17,697)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities											(666)
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate										(12,444)	(5,113)
Change in Deferred Tax Asset
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs												7,750
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments										(670)	475	(970)
Gain on marketable securities
Expenses related to early retirement of debt
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory										(84,160)	(125,869)	(123,614)
Origination of mortgage loans										(651,618)	(630,294)	(628,154)
Sale of mortgage loans										629,397	659,610	579,221
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash										(771)	(676)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets										375,007	274,151	144,320
Increase in customer deposits										(3,774)	11,498	(5,469)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses										(59,493)	(111,272)	91,114
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities										204,963	87,038	47,721
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net										(789)	(2,895)	(80)
Purchase of marketable securities										(60,221)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities										(213,523)	(62)	(29,793)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities										5,709	19,450
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate										(30,090)	(66,867)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate										16,707	2,806
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities										(282,207)	(47,568)	(29,873)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable										1,002,934	921,251	927,233
Principal payments of loans payable										(989,281)	(941,032)	(944,095)
Repayments of Subordinated Debt
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests											2,678	320
Net cash used in financing activities										13,653	(17,103)	(16,542)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents										(63,591)	22,367	1,306
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	131,040				131,040				108,673	131,040	108,673	107,367
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		67,449				131,040				67,449	131,040	108,673
Eliminations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income (loss)										(106,611)	(46,890)	(8,012)
Depreciation and amortization										(1,271)
Stock-based compensation
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Income from unconsolidated entities
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate
Change in Deferred Tax Asset
Deferred tax valuation allowances
Inventory impairments and write-offs
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments
Gain on marketable securities
Expenses related to early retirement of debt
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										112,835	45,029	9,806
Increase in customer deposits
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses										(4,953)	1,861	(1,794)
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable
Decrease in income taxes payable
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities										0	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	0
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Subordinated Debt
Early Repayment of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Net cash used in financing activities										0	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents										0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0				0				0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0