Other Income (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income from Ancillary Businesses		$ 17,473	$ 23,530	$ 10,653
Land Sales		85,268	183,870	242,931
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture
Toll Brothers Realty Trust 2 [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales				$ 2,900
Home Building Joint Venture Metro New York Three [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales			$ 78,500
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage			25.00%
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture			$ 9,260
Rental Property Joint Ventures Metro Washington, D.C. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales		38,100
Deferred gain on land sale to joint venture		2,999
Security Monitoring Business [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income from Ancillary Businesses	$ 1,600		$ 8,100
Co-venturer [Member] | Rental Property Joint Ventures Metro Washington, D.C. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Land Sales		$ 20,200
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%	50.00%