Supplemental Guarantor Information (Level 4 CF) (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (66,185)	$ (445,408)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	(5,767)	(20,264)
Purchase of marketable securities		(36,162)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	39,243	239,484
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(80,654)	(31,994)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	39,014	34,686
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	(757)	(26,155)
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	22,424	6,114
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(1,489,116)
Proceeds from Dividends Received	0
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,475,613)	165,709
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	600,000	298,050
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs for Senior debt	(4,700)
Proceeds from loans payable	1,597,562	501,884
Payments of Financing Costs for loans payable	(3,005)
Principal payments of loans payable	(1,046,677)	(545,175)
Redemption of senior notes	(267,960)	(59,068)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	220,357
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	23,333	8,430
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	1,841	0
Purchase of treasury stock	(185)	(178)
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	81	33
Payments of Dividends	0
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,120,647	203,976
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(421,151)	(75,723)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	772,972	778,824
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	351,821	703,101
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	44,258	45,380
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
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	(289,604)	(53,632)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(289,604)	(53,632)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs for Senior debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Payments of Financing Costs for loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	220,357
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	23,333	8,430
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities	1,841
Purchase of treasury stock	(185)	(178)
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	245,346	8,252
Net increase (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
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	15,152	2,599
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
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	(342,492)	(241,581)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(342,492)	(241,581)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	600,000	298,050
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs for Senior debt	(4,700)
Proceeds from loans payable
Payments of Financing Costs for loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Redemption of senior notes	(267,960)	(59,068)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	327,340	238,982
Net increase (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
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(87,965)	(484,680)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	(5,718)	(8,588)
Purchase of marketable securities		(25,938)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	39,243	209,484
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(13,602)	(21,637)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	35,714	23,437
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(1,489,116)
Proceeds from Dividends Received	15,000
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,418,479)	176,758
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs for Senior debt
Proceeds from loans payable	1,141,300
Payments of Financing Costs for loans payable	(3,005)
Principal payments of loans payable	(572,257)	(29,153)
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	505,993	233,990
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,072,031	204,837
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(434,413)	(103,085)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	670,102	712,024
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	235,689	608,939
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(27,401)	3,688
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	(49)	(11,676)
Purchase of marketable securities		(10,224)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities		30,000
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(67,052)	(10,357)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	3,300	11,249
Investment in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	(757)	(26,155)
Return of investments in distressed loans and foreclosed real estate	22,424	6,114
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(42,134)	(11,049)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs for Senior debt
Proceeds from loans payable	456,262	501,884
Payments of Financing Costs for loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable	(474,420)	(516,022)
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	81	33
Payments of Dividends	(15,000)
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	115,874	48,828
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	82,797	34,723
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	13,262	27,362
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	102,870	66,800
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	116,132	94,162
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(10,229)	(12,395)
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
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired
Proceeds from Dividends Received	(15,000)
Intercompany investing advances (to) from consolidated entities	632,096	295,213
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	617,096	295,213
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs for Senior debt
Proceeds from loans payable
Payments of Financing Costs for loans payable
Principal payments of loans payable
Redemption of senior notes
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans
Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury stock
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests
Payments of Dividends	15,000
Intercompany financing advances (to) from consolidated entities	(621,867)	(282,818)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(606,867)	(282,818)
Net increase (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