Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 CF) (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income	$ 24,674	$ 16,872	$ 29,106	$ 14,086
Depreciation and amortization			12,768	10,698
Stock-based compensation			10,027	8,831
(Recovery) impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0	(1,621)	0	(1,621)
Income from unconsolidated entities			(8,076)	(12,055)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities			8,855	1,550
Income from distressed loans and foreclosed real estate			(4,893)	(10,004)
Deferred tax provision (benefit)			18,348	(3,318)
Deferred tax valuation allowances			(1,277)	3,318
Inventory impairments and write-offs	1,029	2,008	1,738	10,128
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments			292	284
Gain on marketable securities			(137)	(39)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in inventory			(617,360)	(202,466)
Origination of mortgage loans			(301,952)	(253,866)
Sale of mortgage loans			322,160	266,713
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash			13,475	(27,638)
Increase in customer deposits			47,119	28,838
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses			36,405	(67,789)
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable			3,166	(6,959)
Net cash used in operating activities			(445,408)	(271,078)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net			(20,264)	(6,528)
Purchase of marketable securities			(36,162)	(177,833)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities			239,484	189,716
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities			(31,994)	(75,008)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities			34,686	20,568
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate			(26,155)	(27,490)
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate			6,114	11,582
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities			0	0
Acquisition of a business				(144,746)
Net cash used in investing activities			165,709	(209,739)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt			298,050	296,227
Proceeds from loans payable			501,884	400,092
Principal payments of loans payable			(545,175)	(429,709)
Redemption of senior notes			(59,068)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans			8,430	17,189
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests			33
Purchase of treasury stock			(178)	(284)
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities			0
Net cash used in financing activities			203,976	283,515
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(75,723)	(197,302)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			778,824	906,340
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	703,101	709,038	703,101	709,038
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income	24,674	16,872	29,106	14,086
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Net cash used in operating activities			45,380	(26,365)
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 distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities			(53,632)	9,460
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities			(53,632)	9,460
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans			8,430	17,189
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock			(178)	(284)
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash used in financing activities			8,252	16,905
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			0	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	(1,393)	0	(2,842)	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Net cash used in operating activities			2,599	4,265
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 distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities			(241,581)	(300,492)
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities			(241,581)	(300,492)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt			298,050	296,227
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Redemption of senior notes			(59,068)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash used in financing activities			238,982	296,227
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			0	0
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	23,554	16,881	27,177	14,097
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Net cash used in operating activities			(484,680)	(234,351)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net			(8,588)	(6,487)
Purchase of marketable securities			(25,938)	(117,781)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities			209,484	189,716
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities			(21,637)	(1,142)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities			23,437	20,568
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Acquisition of a business				(144,746)
Net cash used in investing activities			176,758	(59,872)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable			(29,153)	(17,605)
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities			233,990	173,333
Net cash used in financing activities			204,837	155,728
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(103,085)	(138,495)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			712,024	777,013
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	608,939	638,518	608,939	638,518
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income	3,402	14,144	5,945	15,641
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Net cash used in operating activities			3,688	(1,433)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net			(11,676)	(41)
Purchase of marketable securities			(10,224)	60,052
Sale and redemption of marketable securities			30,000
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities			(10,357)	(73,866)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities			11,249
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate			(26,155)	(27,490)
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate			6,114	11,582
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities			(11,049)	(149,867)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable			501,884	400,092
Principal payments of loans payable			(516,022)	(412,104)
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests			33
Purchase of treasury stock
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities			48,828	104,505
Net cash used in financing activities			34,723	92,493
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			27,362	(58,807)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			66,800	129,327
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	94,162	70,520	94,162	70,520
Eliminations [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net income	(25,563)	(31,025)	(30,280)	(29,738)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Net cash used in operating activities			(12,395)	(13,194)
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 distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities			295,213	291,032
Acquisition of a business
Net cash used in investing activities			295,213	291,032
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of treasury stock
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities			(282,818)	(277,838)
Net cash used in financing activities			(282,818)	(277,838)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0