Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Net sales	$ 691,429	$ 645,779	$ 2,125,568	$ 1,948,064
Cost of sales	491,878	461,491	1,512,258	1,390,715
Gross profit	199,551	184,288	613,310	557,349
Selling and administrative expenses	125,385	118,776	367,194	347,106
Operating income	74,166	65,512	246,116	210,243
Interest and other non-operating expenses, net	2,989	2,473	9,954	6,368
Income before income taxes and equity earnings	71,177	63,039	236,162	203,875
Provision for income taxes	26,807	23,704	90,244	78,489
Equity earnings in unconsolidated investments, net	51	68	113	259
Net income	44,421	39,403	146,031	125,645
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	113	44	309	144
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	$ 44,534	$ 39,447	$ 146,340	$ 125,789
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.06	$ 0.92	$ 3.48	$ 2.91
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03	$ 0.90	$ 3.39	$ 2.83
Weighted average shares outstanding: [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	42,020	42,826	42,092	43,266
Diluted (in shares)	43,119	43,939	43,201	44,407
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.31	$ 0.26	$ 0.88	$ 0.74