Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 94,620	$ 85,247	$ 116,891	$ 101,610
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	283	188	294	196
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	$ 94,903	$ 85,435	$ 117,185	$ 101,806
Weighted average shares outstanding: [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	41,349	42,030	41,271	42,128
Effect of dilutive securities: [Abstract]
Stock options and employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	1,636	1,122	1,666	1,102
Diluted (in shares)	42,985	43,152	42,937	43,230
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.30	$ 2.03	$ 2.84	$ 2.42
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.21	$ 1.98	$ 2.73	$ 2.35
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from diluted earnings per share computations (in shares)	0	0	108	1