Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009	Oct. 31, 2008
Cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 15,043	$ 42,108	$ (20,773)	$ 3,417	$ 50,479	$ 27,302	$ (40,401)	$ (40,754)	$ 39,795	$ (3,374)	$ (755,825)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									23,142	20,044	23,925
Stock-based compensation									12,768	11,677	10,987
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										(4,954)	(24,817)
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities									40,870		11,300
Income/loss from unconsolidated entities									(39,676)	(23,470)	(3,782)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities									12,081	10,297	816
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate									(5,113)
Change in deferred tax asset									(18,188)	60,697	(52,577)
Deferred tax valuation allowances									18,188	(60,697)	458,280
Inventory impairments									51,837	115,258	465,411
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments									475	(970)
Expenses related to early retirement of debt									(3,827)	(1,208)	(13,693)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in inventory									(215,738)	(140,344)	489,213
Origination of mortgage loans									(630,294)	(628,154)	(571,158)
Sale of mortgage loans									659,610	579,221	577,263
Decrease (Increase) in restricted cash									41,146	(60,906)
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets									(11,521)	(3,115)	20,045
Increase (decrease) in customer deposits									13,175	(15,182)	(45,706)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses									(28,899)	(38,598)	(149,065)
Decrease (increase) in income tax refund recoverable									141,590	20,250	(161,840)
Decrease (increase) in current income taxes payable									(56,225)	14,828	(22,972)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									52,850	(146,284)	283,191
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net									(9,553)	(4,830)	(2,712)
Purchase of marketable securities									(452,864)	(157,962)	(101,324)
Redemption of marketable securities									408,831	60,000
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities									(132)	(58,286)	(31,342)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities									43,309	9,696	3,205
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate									(66,867)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate									2,806
Net cash used in investing activities									(74,470)	(151,382)	(132,173)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes											635,765
Redemption of senior subordinated notes										(47,872)	(296,503)
Redemption of senior notes									(58,837)	(46,114)	(210,640)
Proceeds from loans payable									921,251	927,233	636,975
Principal payments of loans payable									(952,621)	(1,316,514)	(785,883)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans									25,531	7,589	22,147
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										4,954	24,817
Purchase of treasury stock									(49,102)	(588)	(1,473)
Change in noncontrolling interest									2,678	320	(2,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(111,100)	(470,992)	23,205
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(132,720)	(768,658)	174,223
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	906,340				1,039,060				906,340	1,039,060	1,807,718	1,633,495
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income (loss)									39,795	(3,374)	(755,825)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization										28	28
Stock-based compensation									12,768	11,677	10,987
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										(4,954)	(24,817)
Change in deferred tax asset									(18,188)	60,697	(52,577)
Deferred tax valuation allowances									18,188	(60,697)	458,280
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets									(116,644)	(50,136)	508,224
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses									2,287	(274)	(4,979)
Decrease (increase) in income tax refund recoverable									141,590	20,250	(161,840)
Decrease (increase) in current income taxes payable									(56,225)	14,828	(22,972)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									23,571	(11,955)	(45,491)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans									25,531	7,589	22,147
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation										4,954	24,817
Purchase of treasury stock									(49,102)	(588)	(1,473)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(23,571)	11,955	45,491
Subsidiary Issuer [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									3,210	3,262	2,652
Expenses related to early retirement of debt									(3,827)	(774)	(11,626)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets									53,557	36,330	(439,154)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses									(1,757)	5,778	(249)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									58,837	46,114	(425,125)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes											635,765
Redemption of senior notes									(58,837)	(46,114)	(210,640)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(58,837)	(46,114)	425,125
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income (loss)									39,608	7,585	(237,089)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									19,343	15,961	20,363
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities									15,170		6,000
Income/loss from unconsolidated entities									(21,299)	(5,773)	1,518
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities									12,747	10,297	816
Inventory impairments									51,837	107,508	419,311
Expenses related to early retirement of debt										(464)	(2,067)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in inventory									(89,869)	(16,730)	377,146
Decrease (Increase) in restricted cash									41,822	(60,906)
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets									(267,889)	(143,435)	185,744
Increase (decrease) in customer deposits									1,677	(9,713)	(22,842)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses									80,257	(133,422)	(111,030)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									(116,596)	(228,164)	642,004
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net									(6,658)	(4,750)	(2,719)
Purchase of marketable securities									(452,864)	(157,962)	(101,324)
Redemption of marketable securities									408,831	60,000
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities									(70)	(28,493)	(31,342)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities									23,859	9,696	3,205
Net cash used in investing activities									(26,902)	(121,509)	(132,180)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Redemption of senior subordinated notes										(47,872)	(296,503)
Principal payments of loans payable									(11,589)	(372,419)	(28,587)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(11,589)	(420,291)	(325,090)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									(155,087)	(769,964)	(184,734)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	775,300				930,387				775,300	930,387	1,700,351	1,515,617
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income (loss)									16,937	245	(11,327)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									589	793	882
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities									25,700		5,300
Income/loss from unconsolidated entities									(18,377)	(17,697)	(5,300)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities									(666)
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate									(5,113)
Inventory impairments										7,750	46,100
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments									475	(970)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in inventory									(125,869)	(123,614)	112,067
Origination of mortgage loans									(630,294)	(628,154)	(571,158)
Sale of mortgage loans									659,610	579,221	577,263
Decrease (Increase) in restricted cash									(676)
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets									264,496	144,502	16,288
Increase (decrease) in customer deposits									11,498	(5,469)	(22,864)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses									(111,272)	91,114	(35,388)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									87,038	47,721	111,803
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net									(2,895)	(80)	7
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities									(62)	(29,793)
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities									19,450
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate									(66,867)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate									2,806
Net cash used in investing activities									(47,568)	(29,873)	7
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from loans payable									921,251	927,233	636,975
Principal payments of loans payable									(941,032)	(944,095)	(757,296)
Change in noncontrolling interest									2,678	320	(2,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities									(17,103)	(16,542)	(122,321)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents									22,367	1,306	(10,511)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	131,040				108,673				131,040	108,673	107,367	117,878
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net income (loss)									(56,545)	(7,830)	248,416
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Expenses related to early retirement of debt										0	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets									54,959	9,624	(250,997)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses									$ 1,586	$ (1,794)	$ 2,581