Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 229.5	$ 135.1	$ 75.5
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	126.9	120.5	127.7
Non-cash asset impairment charges	8.3	20.8	51.4
Pension settlement charge	1.3	27.1	0.0
Gain on disposals of properties, plants and equipment, net	(5.6)	(0.4)	(10.3)
(Gain) loss on disposals of businesses, net	(0.8)	1.7	14.5
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss	(0.7)	4.6	4.1
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(44.8)	2.3	1.5
Transition tax expense	52.8	0.0	0.0
Other, net	(2.8)	1.2	0.0
Increase (decrease) in cash from changes in certain assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(34.0)	(47.3)	(18.6)
Inventories	(24.8)	(7.0)	3.4
Deferred purchase price on sold receivables	2.1	5.1	5.2
Accounts payable	24.3	20.5	39.4
Restructuring reserves	(0.8)	(5.3)	(10.7)
Pension and postretirement benefit liabilities	(66.8)	(1.7)	(8.9)
Other, net	(11.1)	27.8	26.8
Net cash provided by operating activities	253.0	305.0	301.0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of companies, net of cash acquired	0.0	0.0	(0.4)
Collection of subordinated note receivable	0.0	0.0	44.2
Purchases of properties, plants and equipment	(140.2)	(96.8)	(100.1)
Purchases of and investments in timber properties	(8.9)	(9.5)	(7.1)
Purchases of properties, plants and equipment with insurance proceeds	0.0	0.0	(4.4)
Proceeds from the sale of properties, plants, equipment and other assets	12.5	9.6	12.3
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	1.4	5.9	23.8
Proceeds on insurance recoveries	0.0	0.4	6.6
Net cash used in investing activities	(135.2)	(90.4)	(25.1)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,020.7	1,446.0	1,102.3
Payments on long-term debt	(1,065.4)	(1,627.9)	(1,119.2)
Proceeds from (payments on) short-term borrowings, net	(11.0)	(36.4)	4.7
Proceeds from trade accounts receivable credit facility	2.8	203.6	283.5
Payments on trade accounts receivable credit facility	(2.8)	(53.6)	(431.1)
Long-term debt and credit facility financing fees paid	0.0	(4.5)	0.0
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(100.0)	(98.6)	(98.7)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(4.6)	(4.2)	(4.9)
Proceeds from the sale of membership units of a consolidated subsidiary	0.0	0.0	0.3
Acquisitions of treasury stock	0.0	0.0	(5.2)
Purchases of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0.0	0.0	(6.0)
Cash contribution from noncontrolling interest holder	2.0	0.0	1.5
Net cash used in financing activities	(158.3)	(175.6)	(272.8)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(7.6)	(0.4)	(5.6)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(48.1)	38.6	(2.5)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	142.3	103.7	106.2
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	94.2	142.3	103.7
Non-cash transactions:
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable	11.4	12.5	9.2
Schedule of interest and income taxes paid:
Cash payments for interest expense	58.3	76.2	74.8
Cash payments for taxes	$ 65.2	$ 53.4	$ 51.8