Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2017
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 2017 or 2016, 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 filed herein reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended January 31, 2017 and 2016 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months January 31, 2017 and 2016 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, 2016 (the “2016 Form 10-K”). Newly Adopted Accounting Standards In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” which makes changes to both the variable interest model and the 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 were required to re-evaluate their consolidation conclusions as well as disclosure requirements. The Company adopted the new guidance beginning on November 1, 2016, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows or disclosures. Recently Issued Accounting Standards The FASB has issued ASU through 2017-06. The Company has reviewed each recently issued ASU and the adoption of each ASU that is applicable to the Company, other than as explained below, will not 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 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standard 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 but does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flow or 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.

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 2017 or 2016, 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 filed herein reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016, the condensed consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended January 31, 2017 and 2016 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months January 31, 2017 and 2016 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, 2016 (the “2016 Form 10-K”).

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-02, “Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” which makes changes to both the variable interest model and the 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 were required to re-evaluate their consolidation conclusions as well as disclosure requirements. The Company adopted the new guidance beginning on November 1, 2016, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows or disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The FASB has issued ASU through 2017-06. The Company has reviewed each recently issued ASU and the adoption of each ASU that is applicable to the Company, other than as explained below, will not 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 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standard 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 but does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flow or 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.