Comparative Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2014

Comparative Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure Table [Abstract]

Schedule of comparative quarterly financial information

							2014
(in thousands, except per share data)		First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Full Year
	Total revenue	$	360,261	$	354,061	$	367,590	$	368,382	$	1,450,294
	Operating income	$	124,200	$	125,303	$	131,178	$	139,176	$	519,857
	Net income	$	76,730	$	78,047	$	81,269	$	85,118	$	321,164
	Net income attributable to Eaton Vance Corp. shareholders	$	71,358	$	74,901	$	77,935	$	80,122	$	304,316
	Earnings per Share:
	Basic	$	0.59	$	0.62	$	0.66	$	0.68	$	2.55
	Diluted	$	0.56	$	0.59	$	0.63	$	0.66	$	2.44
							2013
(in thousands, except per share data)		First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter		Full Year
	Total revenue	$	318,517	$	331,692	$	350,361	$	356,933	$	1,357,503
	Operating income	$	100,680	$	108,070	$	118,850	$	125,407	$	453,007
	Net income	$	62,127	$	71,120	$	25,050	$	72,129	$	230,426
	Net income attributable to Eaton Vance Corp. shareholders	$	49,805	$	63,681	$	23,203	$	57,152	$	193,841
	Earnings per Share:
	Basic	$	0.39	$	0.53	$	0.19	$	0.47	$	1.60
	Diluted	$	0.38	$	0.50	$	0.18	$	0.45	$	1.53