Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) instructions to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates. The Company’s fiscal year begins on November 1 and ends on October 31 of the following year. Any references to the year 2016 or 2015, or to any quarter of those years, relates to the fiscal year or quarter, as the case may be, ended in that year. The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 and 2015 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine month periods ended July 31, 2016 and 2015 of Greif, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Greif, Inc., all wholly-owned and consolidated subsidiaries and investments in limited liability companies, partnerships and joint ventures in which it has controlling influence or is the primary beneficiary. Non-majority owned entities include investments in limited liability companies, partnerships and joint ventures in which the Company does not have controlling influence and are accounted for using either the equity or cost method, as appropriate. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”). Recently Issued Accounting Standards In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-3, “Interest: Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30).” The objective of this update is to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements. Under this ASU, the Company would present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset; amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company would apply the new guidance retrospectively to all prior periods (i.e., the balance sheet for each period would be adjusted). This ASU requires the Company to “disclose in the first fiscal year after the entity’s adoption date, and in the interim periods within the first fiscal year, the following: (1)the nature and reason for the change in accounting principle; (2) the transition method; (3) a description of the prior-period information that has been retrospectively adjusted; and (4) the effect of the change on the financial statement line item (that is, the debt issuance costs asset and the debt liability).” The Company is expected to adopt this guidance beginning on November 1, 2016 and the adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows, other than the related disclosures. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-2, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” which makes changes to both the variable interest model and voting interest model and eliminates the indefinite deferral of FASB Statement No. 167, included in ASU 2010-10, for certain investment funds. All reporting entities that hold a variable interest in other legal entities will need to re-evaluate their consolidation conclusions as well as disclosure requirements. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted, including any interim period. The Company is in the process of analyzing the impact of adopting this guidance, however it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows, other than the related disclosures. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-9, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The update is effective in fiscal year 2019 using one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is in the process of determining the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and disclosures. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern: Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as Going Concern.” The objective of this update is to reduce the diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures related to going concern. The amendments require management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. This update applies to all entities that would be required to disclose information about their potential inability to continue as a going concern when “substantial doubt” about their ability to continue as a going concern exists. The Company will be required to evaluate “relevant conditions and events that are known and reasonably knowable at the date that the financial statements are issued.” The Company will have to document its consideration of this ASU, but not because the Company believes there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The Company is expected to adopt this guidance beginning November 1, 2017, and the adoption of the new guidance is not expected to impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows, other than the related disclosures. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, “Leases (Topic 842),” which amends the lease accounting and disclosure requirements in ASC 842, Leases. The objective of this update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about lease arrangements. This ASU will require the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The update is effective in fiscal year 2020 using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the process of determining the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-9, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transaction. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted, including any interim period. The Company is in the process of determining the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and disclosures. Newly Adopted Accounting Standards In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Tax Items.” This ASU amends ASC 740-10-45-4, which now states that in a classified statement of financial position, an entity must classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent amounts. This ASU also supersedes ASC 740-10-45-5, which required the valuation allowance for a particular tax jurisdiction to be allocated between current and noncurrent deferred tax assets for that tax jurisdiction on a pro rata basis. For public companies, this ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company elected to adopt the new guidance beginning February 1, 2016 prospectively, resulting in deferred tax liabilities and assets being classified as noncurrent on the Company’s balance sheet. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows. Refer to Note 11 herein for additional disclosures regarding the adoption of this new guidance.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) instructions to Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.

The Company’s fiscal year begins on November 1 and ends on October 31 of the following year. Any references to the year 2016 or 2015, or to any quarter of those years, relates to the fiscal year or quarter, as the case may be, ended in that year.

The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of July 31, 2016 and October 31, 2015, the condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2016 and 2015 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine month periods ended July 31, 2016 and 2015 of Greif, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Greif, Inc., all wholly-owned and consolidated subsidiaries and investments in limited liability companies, partnerships and joint ventures in which it has controlling influence or is the primary beneficiary. Non-majority owned entities include investments in limited liability companies, partnerships and joint ventures in which the Company does not have controlling influence and are accounted for using either the equity or cost method, as appropriate.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”).

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-3, “Interest: Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30).” The objective of this update is to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements. Under this ASU, the Company would present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset; amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company would apply the new guidance retrospectively to all prior periods (i.e., the balance sheet for each period would be adjusted). This ASU requires the Company to “disclose in the first fiscal year after the entity’s adoption date, and in the interim periods within the first fiscal year, the following: (1)the nature and reason for the change in accounting principle; (2) the transition method; (3) a description of the prior-period information that has been retrospectively adjusted; and (4) the effect of the change on the financial statement line item (that is, the debt issuance costs asset and the debt liability).” The Company is expected to adopt this guidance beginning on November 1, 2016 and the adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows, other than the related disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-2, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” which makes changes to both the variable interest model and voting interest model and eliminates the indefinite deferral of FASB Statement No. 167, included in ASU 2010-10, for certain investment funds. All reporting entities that hold a variable interest in other legal entities will need to re-evaluate their consolidation conclusions as well as disclosure requirements. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted, including any interim period. The Company is in the process of analyzing the impact of adopting this guidance, however it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows, other than the related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-9, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The update is effective in fiscal year 2019 using one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is in the process of determining the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern: Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as Going Concern.” The objective of this update is to reduce the diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures related to going concern. The amendments require management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently in U.S. auditing standards. This update applies to all entities that would be required to disclose information about their potential inability to continue as a going concern when “substantial doubt” about their ability to continue as a going concern exists. The Company will be required to evaluate “relevant conditions and events that are known and reasonably knowable at the date that the financial statements are issued.” The Company will have to document its consideration of this ASU, but not because the Company believes there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The Company is expected to adopt this guidance beginning November 1, 2017, and the adoption of the new guidance is not expected to impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows, other than the related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-2, “Leases (Topic 842),” which amends the lease accounting and disclosure requirements in ASC 842, Leases. The objective of this update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about lease arrangements. This ASU will require the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The update is effective in fiscal year 2020 using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the process of determining the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-9, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transaction. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted, including any interim period. The Company is in the process of determining the potential impact of adopting this guidance on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and disclosures.

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Tax Items.” This ASU amends ASC 740-10-45-4, which now states that in a classified statement of financial position, an entity must classify deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent amounts. This ASU also supersedes ASC 740-10-45-5, which required the valuation allowance for a particular tax jurisdiction to be allocated between current and noncurrent deferred tax assets for that tax jurisdiction on a pro rata basis. For public companies, this ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company elected to adopt the new guidance beginning February 1, 2016 prospectively, resulting in deferred tax liabilities and assets being classified as noncurrent on the Company’s balance sheet. Prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) or cash flows. Refer to Note 11 herein for additional disclosures regarding the adoption of this new guidance.