Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 957.9	$ 1,059.9
Net income	$ 39.9	$ 32.5	47.9	22.6
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	10.4	46.3	1.2	18.0
Interest rate derivative	0.2	0.0	4.8	0.0
Other comprehensive income (loss), derivatives qualifying as hedges, tax			2.9
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)	1.3	(1.3)	29.4	0.6
Other comprehensive (income) loss, pension and other postretirement benefit plans, tax			17.5
Comprehensive income	51.8	77.5	83.3	41.2
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			0.0
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				(21.6)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests			(2.2)	(2.4)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest			(2.6)
Other			0.0	(0.3)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(24.7)	(24.8)	(49.2)	(49.3)
Dividends to noncontrolling interests			(3.1)	(2.2)
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method				(5.2)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross				1.1
Long-term incentive shares issued			2.7	1.1
Ending balance	986.8	1,000.5	986.8	1,000.5
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				(2.0)
Capital Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 141.4	$ 139.1
Beginning balance (shares)			47,792	47,814
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Treasury stock, shares, acquired				(110)
Stock issued during period, shares, restricted stock award, gross				(42)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross				$ 1.0
Long-term incentive shares issued			$ 2.6	$ 1.0
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)			(49)	(41)
Ending balance	$ 144.0	$ 141.1	$ 144.0	$ 141.1
Ending balance (shares)	47,841	47,787	47,841	47,787
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ (135.6)	$ (130.6)
Beginning balance (shares)			29,050	29,028
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Treasury stock, shares, acquired				110
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method				$ (5.2)
Stock issued during period, shares, restricted stock award, gross				(42)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross				$ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued			$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)			(49)	(41)
Ending balance	$ (135.5)	$ (135.6)	$ (135.5)	$ (135.6)
Ending balance (shares)	29,001	29,055	29,001	29,055
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 1,340.0	$ 1,384.5
Net income			41.4	20.3
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders			(49.2)	(49.3)
Ending balance	$ 1,332.2	$ 1,334.9	1,332.2	1,334.9
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				(2.0)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(398.4)	(377.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			3.5	18.6
Interest rate derivative			4.8
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)			29.4	0.6
Ending balance	(360.7)	(358.2)	(360.7)	(358.2)
Non controlling interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			10.5	44.3
Net income			6.5	2.3
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			(2.3)	(0.6)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				(22.8)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests			(2.2)	(2.4)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest			(2.6)
Other				(0.3)
Dividends to noncontrolling interests			(3.1)	(2.2)
Ending balance	6.8	18.3	6.8	18.3
Greif, Inc. Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			947.4	1,015.6
Net income			41.4	20.3
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			3.5	18.6
Interest rate derivative			4.8
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)			29.4	0.6
Comprehensive income			79.1	39.5
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders			(49.2)	(49.3)
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method				(5.2)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross				1.1
Long-term incentive shares issued			2.7	1.1
Ending balance	$ 980.0	$ 982.2	$ 980.0	982.2
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				$ (2.0)