Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$ 40.7	$ 39.8	$ 25.3	$ 66.9	$ 105.8	$ 158.4	$ 179.5	$ 206.8
Cash dividends	24.5			24.6	73.3	73.4
Undistributed net income attributable to Greif, Inc	$ 16.2			$ 42.3	$ 32.5	$ 85.0
Class A common stock [Member]
Denominator for basic EPS
Denominator for basic EPS	25.2			24.9	25.1	24.8
Denominator for diluted EPS
Denominator for diluted EPS	25.3			25.1	25.2	25.0
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 0.70	$ 0.68	$ 0.44	$ 1.15	$ 1.82	$ 2.72	$ 3.08	$ 3.55
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 0.70	$ 0.68	$ 0.44	$ 1.14	$ 1.82	$ 2.70	$ 3.07	$ 3.53
Dividends per share
Dividends per share	$ 0.42			$ 0.42	$ 1.26	$ 1.26
Class B common stock [Member]
Denominator for basic EPS
Denominator for basic EPS	22.1			22.4	22.1	22.4
Denominator for diluted EPS
Denominator for diluted EPS	22.1			22.4	22.1	22.4
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 1.05	$ 1.02	$ 0.65	$ 1.72	$ 2.72	$ 4.06	$ 4.61	$ 5.31
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 1.05	$ 1.02	$ 0.65	$ 1.72	$ 2.72	$ 4.06	$ 4.61	$ 5.31
Dividends per share
Dividends per share	$ 0.63			$ 0.63	$ 1.88	$ 1.88