Investments In Equity Method Investees (Details) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total equity method sponsored funds	$ 42,907,000	$ 89,287,000
Private Equity Partnership [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	7.00%	7.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	4,600,000	4,900,000
Eaton Vance Atlanta Capital Select Equity Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	0.00%	28.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	0	25,207,000
Eaton Vance Municipal Opportunities Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	34.00%	33.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	11,009,000	10,420,000
Eaton Vance Real Estate Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	36.00%	34.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	10,774,000	9,820,000
Eaton Vance Focused Growth Opportunities Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	33.00%	34.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	7,108,000	6,870,000
Eaton Vance Focused Value Opportunities Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	32.00%	34.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	7,186,000	6,826,000
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Bond Strategies Long Term Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	30.00%	30.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	5,828,000	5,552,000
Eaton Vance Hexavest Global Equity Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	0.00%	30.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	0	24,592,000
Eaton Vance Currency Income Advantage Fund [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	42.00%	0.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	1,002,000	0
Hexavest [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment ownership percentage	49.00%	49.00%
Equity method investment aggregate cost	166,700,000	175,500,000
Equity method investment underlying equity in net assets	5,900,000	5,500,000
Intangible assets net excluding goodwill, equity in investee	35,600,000	38,600,000
Goodwill, equity in investee	134,800,000	141,800,000
Deferred tax liability, equity in investee	$ 9,600,000	$ 10,400,000