Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (2,786)	$ 3,417
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,229	4,387
Stock-based compensation	5,626	5,373
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0	20,000
Income from unconsolidated entities	(6,687)	(8,998)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	872	2,793
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	(4,138)
Deferred tax benefit	(1,246)	(6,589)
Deferred tax valuation allowances	1,246	6,589
Inventory impairments and write-offs	8,120	5,126
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments	346	714
Gain on marketable securities	(39)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in Inventory	(108,468)	(120,875)
Origination of mortgage loans	(120,662)	(182,659)
Sale of mortgage loans	146,895	233,891
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(28,481)	8,498
Decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	11,929	7,937
Increase in customer deposits	3,230	2,277
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(67,127)	(38,987)
Decrease in income taxes payable	(5,790)	(20,082)
Net cash used in operating activities	(161,931)	(77,188)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	(3,540)	(4,281)
Purchase of marketable securities	0	(119,238)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	88,217	102,500
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(71,784)	0
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	15,333	6,305
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	(26,410)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	3,702
Acquisition of a business	(144,746)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(139,228)	(14,714)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from loans payable	199,139	266,035
Principal payments of loans payable	(237,896)	(329,754)
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	9,334	3,323
Purchase of treasury stock	(64)	(163)
Net cash used in financing activities	(29,487)	(60,559)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(330,646)	(152,461)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	906,340	1,039,060
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	575,694	886,599
Toll Brothers Inc. [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net (loss) income	(2,786)	3,417
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	0	28
Stock-based compensation	5,626	5,373
Deferred tax benefit	(1,246)	(6,589)
Deferred tax valuation allowances	1,246	6,589
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(28,307)
Decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	22,096	8,712
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(109)	(608)
Decrease in income taxes payable	(5,790)	(20,082)
Net cash used in operating activities	(9,270)	(3,160)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from stock-based benefit plans	9,334	3,323
Purchase of treasury stock	(64)	(163)
Net cash used in financing activities	9,270	3,160
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 (loss) income	0	0
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	794	807
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(4,793)	(3,709)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	3,999	2,902
Cash flow from financing activities:
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 (loss) income	(2,782)	5,340
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4,419	3,239
Income from unconsolidated entities	(7,729)	(5,922)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	872	593
Inventory impairments and write-offs	8,120	5,126
Gain on marketable securities	39
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in Inventory	(100,509)	(39,214)
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	650	8,498
Decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(177,441)	(69,228)
Increase in customer deposits	9,291	(1,183)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(11,553)	(41,317)
Net cash used in operating activities	(276,701)	(134,068)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	(2,711)	(1,189)
Purchase of marketable securities	0	(119,238)
Sale and redemption of marketable securities	88,217	102,500
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(256)	0
Return of investments in unconsolidated entities	15,333	6,305
Acquisition of a business	(144,746)
Net cash used in investing activities	(44,163)	(11,622)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Principal payments of loans payable	(12,520)	(6,794)
Net cash used in financing activities	(12,520)	(6,794)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(333,384)	(152,484)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	775,300	930,387
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	441,916	777,903
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net (loss) income	977	3,672
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	16	313
Impairment of investment in unconsolidated entities	0	20,000
Income from unconsolidated entities	1,042	(3,076)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated entities	0	2,200
Income from non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	(4,138)
Change in fair value of mortgage loans receivable and derivative instruments	346	714
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in Inventory	(7,959)	(81,661)
Origination of mortgage loans	(120,662)	(182,659)
Sale of mortgage loans	146,895	233,891
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash	(824)
Decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	174,480	63,393
Increase in customer deposits	(6,061)	3,460
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(60,072)	(207)
Net cash used in operating activities	124,040	60,040
Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment - net	(829)	(3,092)
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(71,528)	0
Investment in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	(26,410)
Return of investments in non-performing loan portfolios and foreclosed real estate	3,702
Net cash used in investing activities	(95,065)	(3,092)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from loans payable	199,139	266,035
Principal payments of loans payable	(225,376)	(322,960)
Net cash used in financing activities	(26,237)	(56,925)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	2,738	23
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	131,040	108,673
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	133,778	108,696
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flow used in operating activities:
Net (loss) income	1,805	(9,012)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Decrease in receivables, prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,413)	8,769
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	608	243
Cash flow from financing activities:
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 0	$ 0