Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Eaton Vance Corp. shareholders	$ 60,711	$ 58,386
Less: Allocation of earnings to participating restricted shares (Basic)	0	628
Less: Allocation of earnings to participating restricted shares (Diluted)	0	628
Net income available to common shareholders (basic)	60,711	57,758
Net income available to common shareholders (diluted)	$ 60,711	$ 57,758
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic	110,267	111,641
Incremental common shares	4,404	2,962
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted	114,671	114,603
Earnings per share (Basic) ($ per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.52
Earnings per share (Diluted) ($ per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.50
Antidilutive common shares	8,100	12,000