Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 1,683,252	$ 1,692,422	$ 1,532,111
Expenses:
Compensation and related costs	626,513	604,631	553,952
Distribution expense	150,239	165,033	156,912
Service fee expense	107,762	106,831	105,448
Amortization of deferred sales commissions	22,593	18,394	16,239
Fund-related expenses	40,357	37,602	35,128
Other expenses	214,917	204,729	181,674
Total expenses	1,162,381	1,137,220	1,049,353
Operating income	520,871	555,202	482,758
Non-operating income (expense):
Gains and other investment income, net	51,040	10,066	19,303
Interest expense	(23,795)	(23,629)	(27,496)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(5,396)
Other income (expense) of consolidated collateralized loan obligation (CLO) entities:
Gains and other investment income, net	70,272	16,882	0
Interest and other expense	(59,350)	(15,286)	0
Total non-operating income (expense)	38,167	(11,967)	(13,589)
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	559,038	543,235	469,169
Income taxes	(135,252)	(156,703)	(173,666)
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax	9,090	11,373	10,870
Net income	432,876	397,905	306,373
Net income attributable to non-controlling and other beneficial interests	(32,841)	(15,967)	(24,242)
Net income attributable to Eaton Vance Corp. shareholders	$ 400,035	$ 381,938	$ 282,131
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 3.63	$ 3.33	$ 2.54
Diluted	$ 3.50	$ 3.11	$ 2.42
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	110,064	114,745	110,918
Diluted	114,388	122,932	116,418
Management fees [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 1,463,943	$ 1,459,186	$ 1,309,020
Distribution and underwriter fees [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	85,612	97,371	95,553
Service fees [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	123,073	122,231	117,520
Other revenue [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 10,624	$ 13,634	$ 10,018