Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 69,261	$ 48,783	$ 217,649	$ 165,674
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	294
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation	$ 69,261	$ 48,783	$ 217,649	$ 165,968
Weighted average shares outstanding: [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	40,422	40,659	40,416	41,065
Effect of dilutive securities: [Abstract]
Stock options and employee stock purchase plan (in shares)	1,375	1,548	1,415	1,626
Diluted (in shares)	41,797	42,207	41,831	42,691
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.71	$ 1.20	$ 5.39	$ 4.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.66	$ 1.16	$ 5.20	$ 3.89
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from diluted earnings per share computations (in shares)	0	108	0	108