Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		43,511,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 244,352	$ 44	$ 338,620	$ (90,650)	$ (3,662)
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	128,275	0	0	128,275	0
Foreign currency translation	(9,046)	0	0	0	(9,046)
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	(1,021)	$ 0	0	0	(1,021)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(1,448,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(99,219)	$ (2)	0	(99,217)	0
Share-based compensation	9,543	$ 0	9,543		0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		648,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	25,976	$ 1	25,975	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	(43,117)	$ 0	0	(43,117)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		42,711,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	255,743	$ 43	374,138	(104,709)	(13,729)
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	148,955	0	0	148,955	0
Foreign currency translation	(1,661)	0	0	0	(1,661)
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	1,312	$ 0	0	0	1,312
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(2,064,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(178,414)	$ (2)	0	(178,412)	0
Share-based compensation	9,902	$ 0	9,902	0	0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		443,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	19,122	$ 0	19,122	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	$ (49,749)	$ 0	0	(49,749)	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	41,089,720	41,090,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 205,210	$ 41	403,162	(183,915)	(14,078)
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	191,633	0	0	191,633	0
Foreign currency translation	5,545	0	0	0	5,545
Interest rate swaps, net of tax	1,205	$ 0	0	0	1,205
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements (in shares)		(1,353,000)
Repurchases of common stock, net of retirements	(146,006)	$ (1)	0	(146,005)	0
Share-based compensation	12,482	$ 0	12,482	0	0
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans (in shares)		475,000
Issuance of shares under incentive stock plans, including tax benefit	11,466	$ 0	11,466	0	0
Declaration of cash dividends	(58,029)	0	0	(58,029)	0
Redemption value adjustment of redeemable non-controlling interest	$ (360)	$ 0	(360)	0	0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	40,212,477	40,212,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 223,146	$ 40	$ 426,750	$ (196,316)	$ (7,328)