Document and Entity Information (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Dec. 24, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TOLL BROTHERS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000794170
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	Toll Brothers, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Amendment No.1 on Form 10-K/A (the “Form 10-K/A”) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 28, 2012 (the “Original Filing”), for the purpose of revising certain financial statements and footnotes contained in Part II, Item 8 as described below, making related updates to Part II, Item 9A to address the impact of the revised financial statements and footnotes on the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer's original conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, and making corresponding revisions to the Interactive Data File included in the Original Filing as Exhibit 101. Part IV of the Original Filing has also been amended to contain currently dated certifications, as required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a currently dated auditor's consent.
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		169,041,000
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 3,797,126