Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Aug. 24, 2012 Class A common stock	Aug. 24, 2012 Class B common stock
Entity Registrant Name	GREIF INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000043920
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,264,185	22,119,966