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, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 957.9	$ 1,059.9
Net income	$ 47.5	$ 46.4	95.4	69.0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	30.5	(27.6)	31.7	(9.6)
Interest rate derivative	(0.8)	0.0	4.0	0.0
Other comprehensive income (loss), derivatives qualifying as hedges, tax			2.5
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)	0.4	2.9	29.8	3.5
Other comprehensive (income) loss, pension and other postretirement benefit plans, tax			17.5
Comprehensive income	77.6	21.7	160.9	62.9
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest			3.8
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				(21.6)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests			(3.1)	(3.9)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest			(2.6)
Other			0.0	(0.4)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(24.7)	(24.7)	(73.9)	(74.0)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest			(1.3)	0.8
Dividends to noncontrolling interests			(3.1)	(3.9)
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method			0.1	(5.2)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross			1.3	1.4
Long-term incentive shares issued			1.4	1.1
Ending balance	1,042.7	994.2	1,042.7	994.2
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			$ 3.8	$ (3.1)
Capital Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (shares)			47,792	47,814
Beginning balance			$ 141.4	$ 139.1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Treasury stock, shares, acquired			(2)	(110)
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method			$ 0.0
Stock issued during period, shares, restricted stock award, gross			(24)	(47)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross			$ 1.3	$ 1.3
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)			29	41
Long-term incentive shares issued			$ 1.5	$ 1.0
Ending balance	$ 144.2	$ 141.4	$ 144.2	$ 141.4
Ending balance (shares)	47,843	47,792	47,843	47,792
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (shares)			29,050	29,028
Beginning balance			$ (135.6)	$ (130.6)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Treasury stock, shares, acquired			2	110
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method			$ 0.1	$ (5.2)
Stock issued during period, shares, restricted stock award, gross			24	47
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross			$ 0.0	$ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)			(29)	(41)
Long-term incentive shares issued			$ (0.1)	$ 0.1
Ending balance	$ (135.6)	$ (135.6)	$ (135.6)	$ (135.6)
Ending balance (shares)	28,999	29,050	28,999	29,050
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 1,340.0	$ 1,384.5
Net income			85.3	66.4
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders			(73.9)	(74.0)
Ending balance	$ 1,355.2	$ 1,355.2	1,355.2	1,355.2
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			3.8	(3.1)
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			33.4	(5.3)
Interest rate derivative			4.0
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)			29.8	3.5
Ending balance	(331.2)	(379.2)	(331.2)	(379.2)
Non controlling interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			10.5	44.3
Net income			10.1	2.6
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			(1.7)	(4.3)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				(22.8)
Net income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests			(3.1)	(3.9)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest			(2.6)
Other				(0.4)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest				0.8
Dividends to noncontrolling interests			(3.1)	(3.9)
Ending balance	10.1	12.4	10.1	12.4
Greif, Inc. Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			947.4	1,015.6
Net income			85.3	66.4
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation			33.4	(5.3)
Interest rate derivative			4.0
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)			29.8	3.5
Comprehensive income			152.5	64.6
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest				1.2
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders			(73.9)	(74.0)
Treasury stock, value, acquired, cost method			0.1	(5.2)
Stock issued during period, value, restricted stock award, gross			1.3	1.4
Long-term incentive shares issued			1.4	1.1
Ending balance	$ 1,032.6	$ 981.8	1,032.6	981.8
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			$ 3.8	$ (3.1)