Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 1,059.9	$ 1,223.2
Net income	$ 46.4	$ 9.3	69.0	58.0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(27.6)	5.6	(9.6)	(109.5)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of immaterial income tax benefit	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)	2.9	(0.9)	3.5	5.5
Comprehensive income (loss)	21.7	14.0	62.9	(45.9)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other				(10.5)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest			(21.6)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests			(3.9)
Other			(0.4)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(24.7)	(24.8)	(74.0)	(74.0)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest			0.8
Dividends to noncontrolling interests			(3.9)	(4.0)
Stock options exercised				0.2
Treasury shares acquired			(5.2)
Restricted stock executives and directors			1.4	1.4
Long-term incentive shares issued			1.1	2.1
Ending balance	994.2	1,092.5	994.2	1,092.5
Income tax benefit, minimum pension liability adjustment				2.4
Out of Period
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			(19.8)
Current Period
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			(3.1)
Capital Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 139.1	$ 135.5
Beginning balance (shares)			47,814	47,724
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Stock options exercised				$ 0.2
Stock options exercised (shares)				10
Treasury shares acquired (shares)			(110)
Restricted stock executives and directors			$ 1.3	$ 1.4
Restricted stock executives and directors (shares)			47	31
Long-term incentive shares issued			$ 1.0	$ 2.0
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)			41	49
Ending balance	$ 141.4	$ 139.1	$ 141.4	$ 139.1
Ending balance (shares)	47,792	47,814	47,792	47,814
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ (130.6)	$ (130.7)
Beginning balance (shares)			29,028	29,118
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Stock options exercised (shares)				(10)
Treasury shares acquired			$ (5.2)
Treasury shares acquired (shares)			110
Restricted stock executives and directors			$ 0.1
Restricted stock executives and directors (shares)			(47)	(31)
Long-term incentive shares issued			$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)			(41)	(49)
Ending balance	$ (135.6)	$ (130.6)	$ (135.6)	$ (130.6)
Ending balance (shares)	29,050	29,028	29,050	29,028
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 1,384.5	$ 1,411.7
Net income			66.4	59.5
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other				(0.4)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest			1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders			(74.0)	(74.0)
Ending balance	$ 1,355.2	$ 1,396.8	1,355.2	1,396.8
Retained Earnings | Out of Period
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			(19.8)
Retained Earnings | Current Period
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			(3.1)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(377.4)	(274.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			(5.3)	(87.7)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of immaterial income tax benefit				0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)			3.5	5.5
Ending balance	(379.2)	(356.5)	(379.2)	(356.5)
Non controlling interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			44.3	81.1
Net income			2.6	(1.5)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			(4.3)	(21.8)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other				(10.1)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest			(22.8)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests			(3.9)
Other			(0.4)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest			0.8
Dividends to noncontrolling interests			(3.9)	(4.0)
Ending balance	12.4	43.7	12.4	43.7
Greif, Inc. Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			1,015.6	1,142.1
Net income			66.4	59.5
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			(5.3)	(87.7)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of immaterial income tax benefit				0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)			3.5	5.5
Comprehensive income (loss)			64.6	(22.6)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest and other				(0.4)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest			1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders			(74.0)	(74.0)
Stock options exercised				0.2
Treasury shares acquired			(5.2)
Restricted stock executives and directors			1.4	1.4
Long-term incentive shares issued			1.1	2.1
Ending balance	$ 981.8	$ 1,048.8	981.8	$ 1,048.8
Greif, Inc. Equity | Out of Period
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			(19.8)
Greif, Inc. Equity | Current Period
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			$ (3.1)