Correction of Errors (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
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net sales	$ 1,102.8	$ 1,098.1		$ 1,121.9	$ 3,193.6	$ 3,116.5
Cost of products sold	900.3			910.8	2,606.5	2,522.4	3,447.7	2,759.5
Gross profit	202.5	205.9		211.1	587.1	594.1	800.2	702.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	115.8	118.7	110.4	109.3	344.9	330.0	449.1	364.6
(Gain) on disposal of properties, plants and equipment, net	(3.3)		(2.0)	(9.2)	(6.4)	(14.1)	(16.1)
Operating profit	86.1	79.1	60.5	107.6	225.7	266.8	336.7	322.1
Income before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated affilitates, net	65.7	52.3	37.0	84.7	155.0	203.1	243.0	249.2
Income tax expense	24.5	15.1	11.0	17.3	50.5	45.3	67.2	40.5
Net income	41.7	39.2	26.0	68.9	107.0	159.8	180.6	212.3
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	40.7	39.8	25.3	66.9	105.8	158.4	179.5	206.8
Current assets
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance	492.8				492.8		563.0	475.9
Inventories	398.2				398.2		431.8	395.7
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	133.3				133.3		134.1	128.7
Long-term assets
Goodwill	952.4				952.4		1,005.1	709.9
Other intangible assets, net of amortization	198.6				198.6		228.8	172.5
Other long-term assets	88.7				88.7		93.4
Properties, plants and equipment
Machinery and equipment	1,375.1				1,375.1		1,396.8	1,318.0
Total assets	3,913.7				3,913.7		4,194.1	3,485.8
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	461.2				461.2		492.9	473.0
Long-term liabilities
Other long-term liabilities	188.9				188.9		203.3	121.1
Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings	1,415.9				1,415.9		1,383.3	1,301.6
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,913.7				3,913.7		4,194.1	3,485.8
Class A common stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic	$ 0.70	$ 0.68	$ 0.44	$ 1.15	$ 1.82	$ 2.72	$ 3.08	$ 3.55
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted	$ 0.70	$ 0.68	$ 0.44	$ 1.14	$ 1.82	$ 2.70	$ 3.07	$ 3.53
Class B common stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic	$ 1.05	$ 1.02	$ 0.65	$ 1.72	$ 2.72	$ 4.06	$ 4.61	$ 5.31
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted	$ 1.05	$ 1.02	$ 0.65	$ 1.72	$ 2.72	$ 4.06	$ 4.61	$ 5.31
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net sales		1,095.3
Cost of products sold				910.6		2,521.7	3,446.8	2,757.9
Gross profit		203.1		211.3		594.8	801.1	703.6
Selling, general and administrative expenses		121.9	112.6	109.1		329.5	448.4	362.9
(Gain) on disposal of properties, plants and equipment, net			(3.2)				(14.9)
Operating profit		74.3	58.3	108.0		268.0	337.1	325.4
Income before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated affilitates, net		47.5	34.8	85.1		204.3	243.4	252.5
Income tax expense		13.3	10.2	21.7		49.7	71.1	40.6
Net income		36.2	24.6	64.9		156.6	177.1	215.5
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.		36.8	23.9	62.9		155.2	176.0	210.0
Current assets
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance							568.6	480.2
Inventories							432.5	396.6
Prepaid expenses and other current assets							140.0	134.3
Long-term assets
Goodwill							1,004.9	709.7
Other intangible assets, net of amortization							229.8	173.2
Other long-term assets							92.2
Properties, plants and equipment
Machinery and equipment							1,398.2	1,319.3
Total assets							4,207.3	3,498.4
Current liabilities
Accounts payable							487.8	467.9
Long-term liabilities
Other long-term liabilities							203.2	116.9
Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings							1,401.7	1,323.5
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity							4,207.3	3,498.4
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] | Class A common stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ 0.63	$ 0.41	$ 1.08		$ 2.66	$ 3.02	$ 3.60
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ 0.63	$ 0.41	$ 1.07		$ 2.65	$ 3.01	$ 3.58
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] | Class B common stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ 0.95	$ 0.61	$ 1.61		$ 3.98	$ 4.52	$ 5.40
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ 0.95	$ 0.61	$ 1.61		$ 3.98	$ 4.52	$ 5.40
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net sales		2.8
Cost of products sold				0.2		0.7	0.9	1.6
Gross profit		2.8		(0.2)		(0.7)	(0.9)	(1.6)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(3.2)	(2.2)	0.2		0.5	0.7	1.7
(Gain) on disposal of properties, plants and equipment, net			1.2				(1.2)
Operating profit		4.8	2.2	(0.4)		(1.2)	(0.4)	(3.3)
Income before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated affilitates, net		4.8	2.2	(0.4)		(1.2)	(0.4)	(3.3)
Income tax expense		1.8	0.8	(4.4)		(4.4)	(3.9)	(0.1)
Net income		3.0	1.4	4.0		3.2	3.5	(3.2)
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.		3.0	1.4	4.0		3.2	3.5	(3.2)
Current assets
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance							(5.6)	(4.3)
Inventories							(0.7)	(0.9)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets							(5.9)	(5.6)
Long-term assets
Goodwill							0.2	0.2
Other intangible assets, net of amortization							(1.0)	(0.7)
Other long-term assets							1.2
Properties, plants and equipment
Machinery and equipment							(1.4)	(1.3)
Total assets							(13.2)	(12.6)
Current liabilities
Accounts payable							5.1	5.1
Long-term liabilities
Other long-term liabilities							0.1	4.2
Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings							(18.4)	(21.9)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity							$ (13.2)	$ (12.6)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Class A common stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ 0.05	$ 0.03	$ 0.07		$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ (0.05)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ 0.05	$ 0.03	$ 0.07		$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ (0.05)
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Class B common stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ 0.07	$ 0.04	$ 0.11		$ 0.08	$ 0.09	$ (0.09)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ 0.07	$ 0.04	$ 0.11		$ 0.08	$ 0.09	$ (0.09)