Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 CF) (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		$ (568,963)	$ (171,537)	$ 58,753
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net		(26,567)	(11,920)	(15,456)
Purchase of marketable securities		(36,202)	(579,958)	(452,864)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities		417,846	368,253	408,831
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities		(93,398)	(217,160)	(132)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities		69,809	38,368	43,309
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate		(26,155)	(30,090)	(66,867)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate		27,370	16,707	2,806
Acquisition of a business	(144,700)	0	(144,746)	0
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities		332,703	(560,546)	(80,373)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt		400,383	578,696	0
Proceeds from loans payable		1,164,531	1,002,934	921,251
Principal payments of loans payable		(1,195,524)	(1,016,081)	(952,621)
Repayments of Senior Debt		(163,853)	0	(58,837)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans		15,798	33,747	25,531
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		24,417	5,776	0
Purchase of treasury stock		(15,377)	(505)	(49,102)
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests		33		2,678
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities		0	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities		230,408	604,567	(111,100)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(5,852)	(127,516)	(132,720)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	906,340	778,824	906,340	1,039,060
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		772,972	778,824	906,340
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		116,508	4,365	100,568
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
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		(141,346)	(43,383)	(76,997)
Net cash used in investing activities		(141,346)	(43,383)	(76,997)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans		15,798	33,747	25,531
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		24,417	5,776
Purchase of treasury stock		(15,377)	(505)	(49,102)
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash used in financing activities		24,838	39,018	(23,571)
Net 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 (used in) provided by operating activities		5,163	5,564	5,279
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
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		(241,693)	(584,260)	53,558
Net cash used in investing activities		(241,693)	(584,260)	53,558
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt		400,383	578,696
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments of Senior Debt		(163,853)		(58,837)
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 used in financing activities		236,530	578,696	(58,837)
Net 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 (used in) provided by operating activities		(587,032)	(100,007)	(276,839)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net		(15,038)	(12,012)	(12,025)
Purchase of marketable securities		(25,938)	(519,737)	(452,864)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities		357,583	368,253	408,831
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities		(34,071)	(113,651)	(70)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities		43,405	34,408	23,859
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 used in investing activities		325,941	(387,485)	(32,269)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable		(33,329)	(28,402)	(16,412)
Repayments 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		252,498	450,906	172,127
Net cash used in financing activities		219,169	422,504	155,715
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(41,922)	(64,988)	(153,393)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	777,012	712,024	777,012	930,405
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		670,102	712,024	777,012
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(92,899)	(78,750)	229,737
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net		(11,529)	92	(3,431)
Purchase of marketable securities		(10,264)	(60,221)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities		60,263
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities		(59,327)	(103,509)	(62)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities		26,404	3,960	19,450
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate		(26,155)	(30,090)	(66,867)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate		27,370	16,707	2,806
Acquisition of a business
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash used in investing activities		6,762	(173,061)	(48,104)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable		1,164,531	1,002,934	921,251
Principal payments of loans payable		(1,162,195)	(987,679)	(936,209)
Repayments of Senior Debt
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests		33		2,678
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities		119,838	174,028	(148,680)
Net cash used in financing activities		122,207	189,283	(160,960)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		36,070	(62,528)	20,673
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	129,328	66,800	129,328	108,655
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		102,870	66,800	129,328
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(10,703)	(2,709)	8
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
Intercompany investing activites (to) from consolidated entities		383,039	627,643	23,439
Net cash used in investing activities		383,039	627,643	23,439
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Repayments 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		(372,336)	(624,934)	(23,447)
Net cash used in financing activities		(372,336)	(624,934)	(23,447)
Net 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