Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information
Entity registrant name	Eaton Vance Corp.
Entity central index key	0000350797
Trading Symbol	EV
Document type	10-Q
Document period end date	Jan. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment flag	false
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Entity voluntary filers	No
Current fiscal year end date	--10-31
Entity filer category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity well known seasoned issuer	Yes
Entity common stock shares outstanding	115,213,640
Entity public float		$ 3,768,192,384