Receivables (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012
Receivables
Minimum number of days for a receivable to be considered past due	30 days
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	$ 127.5	$ 117.2	$ 114.9
60-89 Days Past Due	51.3	48.9	66.4
90 Days or Greater Past Due	33.6	33.7	37.8
Total Past Due	212.4	199.8	219.1
Total Non-Performing	58.0	63.2	67.0
Current	27,060.0	24,941.3	23,194.9
Total Receivables	27,330.4	25,204.3	23,481.0
Retail notes
Receivable, Past Due
Generally the approximate number of days before a receivable is considered to be non-performing, accrual of finance income is suspended and the estimated uncollectible amount is written off	120 days
Retail notes | Agriculture and turf equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	55.8	52.6	57.1
60-89 Days Past Due	21.8	21.8	30.9
90 Days or Greater Past Due	15.2	14.3	18.9
Total Past Due	92.8	88.7	106.9
Total Non-Performing	35.2	37.8	39.0
Current	14,471.5	14,207.3	12,641.7
Total Receivables	14,599.5	14,333.8	12,787.6
Retail notes | Construction and forestry equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	42.0	38.6	34.5
60-89 Days Past Due	16.2	17.0	18.3
90 Days or Greater Past Due	5.2	8.7	8.6
Total Past Due	63.4	64.3	61.4
Total Non-Performing	11.1	13.1	13.8
Current	1,445.5	1,317.6	1,164.2
Total Receivables	1,520.0	1,395.0	1,239.4
Revolving charge accounts
Receivable, Past Due
Generally the approximate number of days before a receivable is considered to be non-performing, accrual of finance income is suspended and the estimated uncollectible amount is written off	120 days
Revolving charge accounts | Agriculture and turf equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	9.6	12.3	14.2
60-89 Days Past Due	5.1	3.6	6.8
90 Days or Greater Past Due	5.5	1.6	8.3
Total Past Due	20.2	17.5	29.3
Total Non-Performing	0.6	0.8	0.7
Current	2,122.9	2,343.0	2,219.0
Total Receivables	2,143.7	2,361.3	2,249.0
Revolving charge accounts | Construction and forestry equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	1.8	2.4	1.7
60-89 Days Past Due	0.5	0.7	0.7
90 Days or Greater Past Due	0.5	0.3	0.4
Total Past Due	2.8	3.4	2.8
Current	60.7	63.0	55.0
Total Receivables	63.5	66.4	57.8
Wholesale receivables
Receivable, Past Due
Generally the approximate number of days before a receivable is considered to be non-performing, accrual of finance income is suspended and the estimated uncollectible amount is written off	60 days
Wholesale receivables | Agriculture and turf equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	4.8	2.3	2.3
60-89 Days Past Due	1.2	3.8	2.5
90 Days or Greater Past Due	4.3	6.6	1.0
Total Past Due	10.3	12.7	5.8
Total Non-Performing	0.3	0.4	0.7
Current	7,342.3	5,394.4	5,638.3
Total Receivables	7,352.9	5,407.5	5,644.8
Wholesale receivables | Construction and forestry equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	1.9	1.2	1.4
60-89 Days Past Due	0.9		0.2
90 Days or Greater Past Due	0.6	1.5	0.1
Total Past Due	3.4	2.7	1.7
Current	1,065.5	1,072.9	979.6
Total Receivables	1,068.9	1,075.6	981.3
Financing leases
Receivable, Past Due
Generally the approximate number of days before a receivable is considered to be non-performing, accrual of finance income is suspended and the estimated uncollectible amount is written off	120 days
Financing leases | Agriculture and turf equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	10.8	7.0	3.2
60-89 Days Past Due	4.2	1.7	6.8
90 Days or Greater Past Due	1.1	0.7	0.2
Total Past Due	16.1	9.4	10.2
Total Non-Performing	9.8	9.2	10.0
Current	371.8	356.5	295.0
Total Receivables	397.7	375.1	315.2
Financing leases | Construction and forestry equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
30-59 Days Past Due	0.8	0.8	0.5
60-89 Days Past Due	1.2	0.3	0.2
90 Days or Greater Past Due	1.2		0.3
Total Past Due	3.2	1.1	1.0
Total Non-Performing	1.0	1.9	2.8
Current	140.0	144.3	134.2
Total Receivables	144.2	147.3	138.0
Operating loans | Agriculture and turf equipment
Aging of Past Due Receivables That Are Still Accruing Interest and Non-Performing Receivables
60-89 Days Past Due	0.2
Total Past Due	0.2
Current	39.8	42.3	67.9
Total Receivables	$ 40.0	$ 42.3	$ 67.9