Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Eaton Vance Corp. shareholders	$ 71,975	$ 54,967	$ 132,686	$ 113,353
Net income available to common shareholders (basic)	71,975	54,967	132,686	113,353
Net income available to common shareholders (diluted)	$ 71,975	$ 54,967	$ 132,686	$ 113,353
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic	110,875	110,459	110,375	110,852
Incremental common shares	5,087	3,208	4,813	3,456
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted	115,962	113,667	115,188	114,308
Earnings per share (Basic) ($ per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.50	$ 1.20	$ 1.02
Earnings per share (Diluted) ($ per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.48	$ 1.15	$ 0.99
Antidilutive common shares	3,600	12,200	4,100	13,100