Revised Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 CF) (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		$ (168,962)	$ 52,850	$ (146,284)
Cash flow provided by (used in) 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)
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		0	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (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
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities		0	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		604,567	(111,100)	(470,992)
Net increase (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	1,807,718
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		778,824	906,340	1,039,060
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		4,365	100,568	41,823
Cash flow provided by (used in) 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
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		(43,383)	(76,997)	(53,778)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities		(43,383)	(76,997)	(53,778)
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
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		39,018	(23,571)	11,955
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		0	0	0
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		5,564	5,279	9,686
Cash flow provided by (used in) 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
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		(584,260)	53,558	36,428
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities		(584,260)	53,558	36,428
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
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		578,696	(58,837)	(46,114)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		0	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		(107,159)	(228,748)	4,007
Cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net		(14,586)	(6,122)	(4,826)
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		(113,651)	(70)	(29,168)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities		34,408	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)
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities		(390,059)	(26,366)	(122,260)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable				219
Principal payments of loans payable		(28,402)	(16,412)	(434,852)
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
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities		460,632	118,133	(170,607)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		432,230	101,721	(653,112)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(64,988)	(153,393)	(771,365)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	777,012	777,012	930,405	1,701,770
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		712,024	777,012	930,405
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		(69,023)	175,743	(201,499)
Cash flow provided by (used in) investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net		91	(3,431)	(4)
Purchase of marketable securities		(60,221)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities		(103,509)	(62)	(29,118)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities		3,960	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
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities		(173,062)	(48,104)	(29,122)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of the Senior Notes
Proceeds from loans payable		1,002,934	921,251	927,014
Principal payments of loans payable		(987,679)	(936,209)	(881,662)
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
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities		164,302	(94,686)	187,656
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		179,557	(106,966)	233,328
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(62,528)	20,673	2,707
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	129,328	129,328	108,655	105,948
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		66,800	129,328	108,655
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		(2,709)	8	(301)
Cash flow provided by (used in) 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
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		627,643	23,439	17,350
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities		627,643	23,439	17,350
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
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities		(624,934)	(23,447)	(17,049)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		(624,934)	(23,447)	(17,049)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0