Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 890,067	$ 1,039,060	$ 1,434,635	$ 1,807,718
Marketable securities	294,286	197,867
Restricted cash	24,225	60,906
Inventory	3,423,617	3,241,725
Property, construction and office equipment, net	98,902	79,916
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	96,972	97,039
Mortgage loans held for sale	45,320	93,644	67,456
Customer deposits held in escrow	16,304	21,366
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities and non-performing loan portfolio	186,917	198,442
Income tax refund recoverable	0	141,590
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0	0
Total assets	5,076,610	5,171,555
Liabilities:
Loans payable	104,512	94,491
Senior notes	1,500,494	1,544,110
Mortgage company warehouse loan	39,905	72,367
Customer deposits	90,184	77,156
Accounts payable	93,622	91,738
Accrued expenses	524,446	570,321
Income taxes payable	105,831	162,359
Total liabilities	2,458,994	2,612,542
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,686	1,664
Additional paid-in capital	390,778	360,006
Retained earnings	2,219,208	2,194,456
Treasury stock, at cost - 1 share and 5 shares at July 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively	(27)	(96)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(245)	(577)
Total stockholders' equity	2,611,400	2,555,453
Noncontrolling interest	6,216	3,560
Total equity	2,617,616	2,559,013
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,076,610	5,171,555
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets		27
Income tax refund recoverable		141,590
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,719,231	2,578,195
Total assets	2,719,231	2,719,812
Liabilities:
Income taxes payable	107,831	164,359
Total liabilities	107,831	164,359
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,686	1,664
Additional paid-in capital	390,778	360,006
Retained earnings	2,219,208	2,194,456
Treasury stock, at cost - 1 share and 5 shares at July 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively	(27)	(96)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(245)	(577)
Total stockholders' equity	2,611,400	2,555,453
Total equity	2,611,400	2,555,453
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,719,231	2,719,812
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	7,097	8,104
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	1,521,739	1,562,109
Total assets	1,528,836	1,570,213
Liabilities:
Senior notes	1,500,494	1,544,110
Accrued expenses	28,342	26,103
Total liabilities	1,528,836	1,570,213
Stockholders' equity:
Total stockholders' equity	0	0
Total equity	0	0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,528,836	1,570,213
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	760,760	930,387	1,325,932	1,700,351
Marketable securities	294,286	197,867
Restricted cash	22,322	60,906
Inventory	2,924,342	2,862,796
Property, construction and office equipment, net	75,978	79,516
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	67,538	66,280
Customer deposits held in escrow	12,131	13,790
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities and non-performing loan portfolio	103,702	116,247
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(831,104)	(871,125)
Total assets	3,429,955	3,456,664
Liabilities:
Loans payable	62,269	63,442
Customer deposits	78,227	72,819
Accounts payable	93,432	91,498
Accrued expenses	315,900	242,793
Total liabilities	549,828	470,552
Stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	4,420	4,420
Retained earnings	2,875,952	2,982,269
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(245)	(577)
Total stockholders' equity	2,880,127	2,986,112
Total equity	2,880,127	2,986,112
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,429,955	3,456,664
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	129,307	108,673	108,703	107,367
Restricted cash	1,903
Inventory	499,275	378,929
Property, construction and office equipment, net	22,924	400
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	24,177	24,565
Mortgage loans held for sale	45,320	93,644
Customer deposits held in escrow	4,173	7,576
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities and non-performing loan portfolio	83,215	82,195
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(372,838)	(315,074)
Total assets	437,456	380,908
Liabilities:
Loans payable	42,243	31,049
Mortgage company warehouse loan	39,905	72,367
Customer deposits	11,957	4,337
Accounts payable	190	240
Accrued expenses	181,858	303,413
Income taxes payable	(2,000)	(2,000)
Total liabilities	274,153	409,406
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	2,003	2,003
Additional paid-in capital	2,734	2,734
Retained earnings	152,350	(36,795)
Total stockholders' equity	157,087	(32,058)
Noncontrolling interest	6,216	3,560
Total equity	163,303	(28,498)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	437,456	380,908
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,840)	(1,937)
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(3,037,028)	(2,954,105)
Total assets	(3,038,868)	(2,956,042)
Liabilities:
Accrued expenses	(1,654)	(1,988)
Total liabilities	(1,654)	(1,988)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	(2,003)	(2,003)
Additional paid-in capital	(7,154)	(7,154)
Retained earnings	(3,028,302)	(2,945,474)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	245	577
Total stockholders' equity	(3,037,214)	(2,954,054)
Total equity	(3,037,214)	(2,954,054)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (3,038,868)	$ (2,956,042)