Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Net sales	$ 1,131,494	$ 1,121,902	$ 1,050,766	$ 943,792	$ 993,942	$ 921,333	$ 836,580	$ 709,682	$ 4,247,954	$ 3,461,537	$ 2,792,217
Gross profit	206,355	211,331	207,354	176,085	206,395	191,039	168,516	137,712	801,125	703,662	499,644
Net income	20,512	64,974	50,591	41,097	76,635	67,759	44,832	26,231	177,174	215,457	113,832
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$ 20,775	$ 62,940	$ 50,884	$ 41,441	$ 76,557	$ 65,975	$ 42,634	$ 24,819	$ 176,040	$ 209,985	$ 110,646
Class A common stock [Member]
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 0.36	$ 1.08	$ 0.87	$ 0.71	$ 1.31	$ 1.13	$ 0.73	$ 0.43	$ 3.02	$ 3.60	$ 1.91
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 0.36	$ 1.07	$ 0.87	$ 0.71	$ 1.30	$ 1.12	$ 0.73	$ 0.43	$ 3.01	$ 3.58	$ 1.91
Basic:
Basic shares	24,967,000	24,897,665	24,825,768	24,787,857	24,747,669	24,687,006	24,637,648	24,545,131	24,869,573	24,654,364	24,328,724
Diluted:
Diluted shares	25,069,409	25,100,003	25,106,844	25,062,556	25,078,601	24,999,901	25,008,915	24,907,553	25,044,442	24,959,076	24,639,983
Class A common stock [Member] | High [Member]
Diluted:
Market price of common stock	$ 61.73	$ 67.57	$ 67.02	$ 65.76	$ 61.31	$ 60.84	$ 61.02	$ 59.31	$ 61.73	$ 61.31
Class A common stock [Member] | Low [Member]
Diluted:
Market price of common stock	$ 40.77	$ 60.53	$ 60.67	$ 57.81	$ 54.90	$ 50.00	$ 46.01	$ 48.36	$ 40.77	$ 54.90
Class A common stock [Member] | Close [Member]
Diluted:
Market price of common stock	$ 44.78	$ 61.05	$ 62.10	$ 63.05	$ 58.74	$ 59.63	$ 59.18	$ 48.36	$ 44.78	$ 58.74
Class B common stock [Member]
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 0.53	$ 1.61	$ 1.31	$ 1.06	$ 1.97	$ 1.70	$ 1.10	$ 0.63	$ 4.52	$ 5.40	$ 2.86
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 0.53	$ 1.61	$ 1.31	$ 1.06	$ 1.97	$ 1.70	$ 1.10	$ 0.63	$ 4.52	$ 5.40	$ 2.86
Basic:
Basic shares	22,238,920	22,362,266	22,385,922	22,412,266	22,412,266	22,444,488	22,462,266	22,462,266	22,300,000	22,400,000	22,500,000
Diluted:
Diluted shares	22,238,920	22,362,266	22,385,922	22,412,266	22,412,266	22,444,488	22,462,266	22,462,266	22,400,000	22,400,000	22,500,000
Class B common stock [Member] | High [Member]
Diluted:
Market price of common stock	$ 58.61	$ 62.50	$ 62.85	$ 63.00	$ 58.99	$ 57.75	$ 57.80	$ 53.42	$ 58.61	$ 58.99
Class B common stock [Member] | Low [Member]
Diluted:
Market price of common stock	$ 40.55	$ 57.84	$ 57.96	$ 56.75	$ 52.87	$ 47.00	$ 45.62	$ 45.20	$ 40.55	$ 52.87
Class B common stock [Member] | Close [Member]
Diluted:
Market price of common stock	$ 45.60	$ 58.33	$ 58.21	$ 60.45	$ 58.00	$ 57.35	$ 57.00	$ 48.59	$ 45.60	$ 58.00