Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
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
Weighted average shares outstanding: [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	42,020	42,826	42,092	43,266
Effect of dilutive securities: [Abstract]
Stock options and employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	1,099	1,113	1,109	1,141
Diluted (in shares)	43,119	43,939	43,201	44,407
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
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from diluted earnings per share computations (in shares)	1	0	1	176