Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Mar. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]    
Net income $ 31,339 $ 22,270
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest 0 11
Net income attributable to Pool Corporation $ 31,339 $ 22,281
Weighted average shares outstanding: [Abstract]    
Basic (in shares) 40,370 41,192
Effect of dilutive securities: [Abstract]    
Stock options and employee stock purchase plan (in shares) 1,492 1,685
Diluted (in shares) 41,862 42,877
Basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.78 $ 0.54
Diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.75 $ 0.52
Anti-dilutive stock options excluded from diluted earnings per share computations (in shares) 85 108