Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 582,234	$ 898,500	$ 1,121,328	$ 597,456	$ 543,082	$ 811,311	$ 1,057,804	$ 585,900	$ 3,199,517	$ 2,998,097	$ 2,788,188
Cost of sales	420,184	640,569	791,014	422,825	382,640	576,308	749,149	419,827	2,274,592	2,127,924	1,982,899
Gross profit	162,050	257,931	330,314	174,631	160,442	235,003	308,655	166,073	924,925	870,173	805,289
Net income	$ 18,024	$ 79,525	$ 131,390	$ 32,637	$ 16,811	$ 69,261	$ 117,049	$ 31,339	261,575	234,461	191,339
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation									$ 261,575	$ 234,461	$ 191,633
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 1.99	$ 3.30	$ 0.83	$ 0.42	$ 1.71	$ 2.89	$ 0.78	$ 6.57	$ 5.82	$ 4.69
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 1.95	$ 3.22	$ 0.80	$ 0.41	$ 1.66	$ 2.80	$ 0.75	$ 6.40	$ 5.62	$ 4.51