Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 BS) (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 703,101		$ 778,824	$ 709,038		$ 906,340
Marketable securities	232,899		439,068
Restricted cash	33,801		47,276
Inventory	4,367,217		3,761,187
Property, construction and office equipment, net	125,289		109,971
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	165,745		144,558
Mortgage loans receivable	66,538		86,386
Customer deposits held in escrow	45,304		29,579
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	357,532		330,617
Investments in distressed loans	48,707		37,169
Investments in foreclosed real estate	71,458	68,764	58,353	18,108	6,488	5,939
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0		0
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	341,014		358,056
Assets	6,558,605		6,181,044
Liabilities:
Loans Payable	96,572		99,817
Senior notes	2,322,397		2,080,463
Mortgage company warehouse loan	58,526		72,664
Customer deposits	205,821		142,977
Accounts payable	149,601		99,911
Accrued expenses	469,233		476,350
Advances from Affiliiate	0		0
Income taxes payable	84,157		80,991
Total liabilities	3,386,307		3,053,173
Equity:
Common stock	1,693		1,687
Additional paid-in capital	418,844		404,418
Retained earnings	2,750,503		2,721,397
Treasury stock, at cost --2 shares and 53 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	(78)		(983)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,861)	(4,803)	(4,819)
Total stockholders' equity	3,166,101		3,121,700
Noncontrolling interest	6,197		6,171
Total equity	3,172,298		3,127,871
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	6,558,605		6,181,044
New Guarantors [Member]
ASSETS
Inventory	214,313		168,218
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	103,871		110,014
Assets	327,574		282,638
Liabilities:
Loans Payable	14,576		30,424
Advances from Affiliiate	303,879		253,550
Total liabilities	333,865		291,990
Equity:
Total equity	(6,291)		(9,352)
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash	15,134		28,268
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	76		134
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,894,431		2,816,607
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances	341,014		358,056
Assets	3,250,655		3,203,065
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Advances from Affiliiate
Income taxes payable	84,157		80,991
Total liabilities	84,157		80,991
Equity:
Common stock	1,693		1,687
Additional paid-in capital	418,844		404,418
Retained earnings	2,750,503		2,721,397
Treasury stock, at cost --2 shares and 53 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively	(78)		(983)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,464)		(4,445)
Total stockholders' equity	3,166,498		3,122,074
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,166,498		3,122,074
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,250,655		3,203,065
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	16,363		15,130
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,334,391		2,092,810
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Assets	2,350,754		2,107,940
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes	2,278,941		2,032,335
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	26,527		27,476
Advances from Affiliiate
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	2,305,468		2,059,811
Equity:
Common stock
Additional paid-in capital	49,400		49,400
Retained earnings	(4,114)		(1,271)
Treasury stock, at cost --2 shares and 53 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	45,286		48,129
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	45,286		48,129
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,350,754		2,107,940
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	608,939		712,024	638,518		777,013
Marketable securities	192,562		378,858
Restricted cash	17,198		17,561
Inventory	4,304,896		3,695,895
Property, construction and office equipment, net	110,624		106,963
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	87,111		80,932
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow	45,304		27,312
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	183,475		180,159
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	4,740		4,740
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Assets	5,554,849		5,204,444
Liabilities:
Loans Payable	96,572		99,817
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits	205,821		142,919
Accounts payable	149,383		99,889
Accrued expenses	327,662		344,555
Advances from Affiliiate			1,342,213
Due to Affiliate	1,573,146
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	2,352,584		2,029,393
Equity:
Common stock	48		48
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings	3,202,547		3,175,370
Treasury stock, at cost --2 shares and 53 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(330)		(367)
Total stockholders' equity	3,202,265		3,175,051
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	3,202,265		3,175,051
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,554,849		5,204,444
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	94,162		66,800	70,520		129,327
Marketable securities	40,337		60,210
Restricted cash	1,469		1,447
Inventory	62,321		65,292
Property, construction and office equipment, net	14,665		3,008
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	82,416		64,543
Mortgage loans receivable	66,538		86,386
Customer deposits held in escrow			2,267
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	174,057		150,458
Investments in distressed loans	48,707		37,169
Investments in foreclosed real estate	71,458		58,353
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Assets	656,130		595,933
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes
Mortgage company warehouse loan	58,526		72,664
Customer deposits			58
Accounts payable	218		22
Accrued expenses	135,412		115,922
Advances from Affiliiate			378,946
Due to Affiliate	427,742
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	621,898		567,612
Equity:
Common stock	3,006		3,006
Additional paid-in capital	1,734		1,734
Retained earnings	23,362		17,417
Treasury stock, at cost --2 shares and 53 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(67)		(7)
Total stockholders' equity	28,035		22,150
Noncontrolling interest	6,197		6,171
Total equity	34,232		28,321
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	656,130		595,933
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0	0		0
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Inventory
Property, construction and office equipment, net
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(20,221)		(16,181)
Mortgage loans receivable
Customer deposits held in escrow
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities
Investments in distressed loans
Investments in foreclosed real estate
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(5,233,562)		(4,914,157)
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
Assets	(5,253,783)		(4,930,338)
Liabilities:
Loans Payable
Senior notes	43,456		48,128
Mortgage company warehouse loan
Customer deposits
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(20,368)		(11,603)
Advances from Affiliiate			(1,721,159)
Due to Affiliate	(2,000,888)
Income taxes payable
Total liabilities	(1,977,800)		(1,684,634)
Equity:
Common stock	(3,054)		(3,054)
Additional paid-in capital	(51,134)		(51,134)
Retained earnings	(3,221,795)		(3,191,516)
Treasury stock, at cost --2 shares and 53 shares at April 30, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total stockholders' equity	(3,275,983)		(3,245,704)
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity	(3,275,983)		(3,245,704)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (5,253,783)		$ (4,930,338)