Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 48,783	$ 44,421	$ 165,674	$ 146,031
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	113	294	309
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	$ 48,783	$ 44,534	$ 165,968	$ 146,340
Weighted average shares outstanding: [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	40,659	42,020	41,065	42,092
Effect of dilutive securities: [Abstract]
Stock options and employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	1,548	1,099	1,626	1,109
Diluted (in shares)	42,207	43,119	42,691	43,201
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.20	$ 1.06	$ 4.04	$ 3.48
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.16	$ 1.03	$ 3.89	$ 3.39
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from diluted earnings per share computations (in shares)	108	1	108	1