Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009	Oct. 31, 2008
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 906,340	$ 1,039,060	$ 1,807,718	$ 1,633,495
Marketable securities	233,572	197,867
Restricted cash	19,760	60,906
Inventory	3,416,723	3,241,725
Property, construction and office equipment, net	99,712	79,916
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	105,576	97,039
Mortgage loans receivable	63,175	93,644
Customer deposits held in escrow	14,859	21,366
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	126,355	198,442
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	69,174	0
Income tax refund recoverable	0	141,590
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	0	0
Total assets	5,055,246	5,171,555
Liabilities:
Loans payable	106,556	94,491
Senior notes	1,490,972	1,544,110
Mortgage company warehouse loan	57,409	72,367
Customer deposits	83,824	77,156
Accounts payable	96,817	91,738
Accrued expenses	521,051	570,321
Income taxes payable	106,066	162,359
Total liabilities	2,462,695	2,612,542
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,664
Additional paid-in capital	400,382	360,006
Retained earnings	2,234,251	2,194,456
Treasury stock, at cost - 2946 shares and 5 shares at October 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(47,065)	(96)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,902)	(577)
Total stockholders' equity	2,586,353	2,555,453
Noncontrolling interest	6,198	3,560
Total equity	2,592,551	2,559,013	2,516,482	3,237,653
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	5,055,246	5,171,555
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	0	27
Income tax refund recoverable	0	141,590
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	2,694,419	2,578,195
Total assets	2,694,419	2,719,812
Liabilities:
Income taxes payable	108,066	164,359
Total liabilities	108,066	164,359
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	1,687	1,664
Additional paid-in capital	400,382	360,006
Retained earnings	2,234,251	2,194,456
Treasury stock, at cost - 2946 shares and 5 shares at October 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(47,065)	(96)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,902)	(577)
Total stockholders' equity	2,586,353	2,555,453
Total equity	2,586,353	2,555,453
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,694,419	2,719,812
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	6,768	8,104
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	1,508,550	1,562,109
Total assets	1,515,318	1,570,213
Liabilities:
Senior notes	1,490,972	1,544,110
Accrued expenses	24,346	26,103
Total liabilities	1,515,318	1,570,213
Stockholders' equity:
Total stockholders' equity	0	0
Total equity	0	0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,515,318	1,570,213
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	775,300	930,387	1,700,351	1,515,617
Marketable securities	233,572	197,867
Restricted cash	19,084	60,906
Inventory	2,911,211	2,862,796
Property, construction and office equipment, net	77,001	79,516
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	74,980	66,280
Customer deposits held in escrow	10,682	13,790
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	86,481	116,247
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(727,258)	(871,125)
Total assets	3,461,053	3,456,664
Liabilities:
Loans payable	61,994	63,442
Customer deposits	71,388	72,819
Accounts payable	96,645	91,498
Accrued expenses	320,021	242,793
Total liabilities	550,048	470,552
Stockholders' equity:
Additional paid-in capital	4,420	4,420
Retained earnings	2,909,487	2,982,269
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,902)	(577)
Total stockholders' equity	2,911,005	2,986,112
Total equity	2,911,005	2,986,112
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,461,053	3,456,664
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	131,040	108,673	107,367	117,878
Restricted cash	676
Inventory	505,512	378,929
Property, construction and office equipment, net	22,711	400
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	26,067	24,565
Mortgage loans receivable	63,175	93,644
Customer deposits held in escrow	4,177	7,576
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	39,874	82,195
Investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	69,174
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(467,395)	(315,074)
Total assets	395,011	380,908
Liabilities:
Loans payable	44,562	31,049
Mortgage company warehouse loan	57,409	72,367
Customer deposits	12,436	4,337
Accounts payable	172	240
Accrued expenses	178,965	303,413
Income taxes payable	(2,000)	(2,000)
Total liabilities	291,544	409,406
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	2,003	2,003
Additional paid-in capital	2,734	2,734
Retained earnings	92,532	(36,795)
Total stockholders' equity	97,269	(32,058)
Noncontrolling interest	6,198	3,560
Total equity	103,467	(28,498)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	395,011	380,908
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,239)	(1,937)
Investments in and advances to consolidated entities	(3,008,316)	(2,954,105)
Total assets	(3,010,555)	(2,956,042)
Liabilities:
Accrued expenses	(2,281)	(1,988)
Total liabilities	(2,281)	(1,988)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	(2,003)	(2,003)
Additional paid-in capital	(7,154)	(7,154)
Retained earnings	(3,002,019)	(2,945,474)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	2,902	577
Total stockholders' equity	(3,008,274)	(2,954,054)
Total equity	(3,008,274)	(2,954,054)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (3,010,555)	$ (2,956,042)