Earnings Per Share - Computation Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$ 24.9	$ 21.7
Cash dividends	24.4	24.3
Undistributed net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$ 0.5	$ (2.6)
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Denominator for basic EPS
Denominator for basic EPS	25,316,395	25,052,868
Denominator for diluted EPS
Denominator for diluted EPS	25,382,077	25,194,245
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 0.43	$ 0.38
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 0.43	$ 0.38
Dividends per share
Dividends per share	$ 0.42	$ 0.42
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Denominator for basic EPS
Denominator for basic EPS	22,100,000	22,100,000
Denominator for diluted EPS
Denominator for diluted EPS	22,100,000	22,100,000
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 0.63	$ 0.55
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 0.63	$ 0.55
Dividends per share
Dividends per share	$ 0.62	$ 0.63