Taxes on Earnings (Detail 2)	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and HP's effective tax rate
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit	(0.40%)	14.10%	2.40%
Lower rates in other jurisdictions, net	(26.80%)	(53.60%)	(9.60%)
Valuation allowance	(5.80%)	(75.70%)	3.20%
Uncertain tax positions	23.70%	5.80%	(0.70%)
Other, net	(3.20%)	7.00%	(3.70%)
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	22.50%	(67.40%)	26.60%

Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to statutory income tax expense (benefit) outside of the country of domicile.

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to state and local income tax expense (benefit), net of federal tax expense (benefit).

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to income tax contingencies. Includes, but not limited to, domestic tax contingency, foreign tax contingency, state and local tax contingency, and other contingencies.

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