Correction of Errors - Stated and Corrected Balances of Previous Years (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cost of products sold	$ 912.4		$ 821.9	$ 900.7	$ 2,620.6	$ 2,608.9	$ 3,489.9	$ 3,449.9
Gross profit	217.3		186.7	202.2	606.6	585.0	779.6	798.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses	118.2			116.8	362.7	349.8	471.0	453.7
Operating profit	96.7		64.0	84.8	244.6	218.7	282.8	330.2
Income before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net	73.5		38.0	64.7	173.2	149.9	185.4	240.1
Income tax expense	25.9	19.6	13.2	25.0	58.7	52.2	58.8	67.3
Net income	48.8	42.3	24.9	39.0	116.0	99.0	127.9	177.6
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	46.7	40.2	23.6	37.5	110.5	96.6	122.4	174.7
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	94.9			91.5	94.9	91.5	91.5	127.3
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance	489.2				489.2		453.8
Inventories	399.8				399.8		373.5
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	129.2				129.2		114.8	130.7
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
Total assets	3,894.2				3,894.2		3,853.4	4,186.9
Current liabilities
Other current liabilities	205.0				205.0		187.9	170.5
Long-term liabilities
Other long-term liabilities	108.8				108.8		117.0	206.8
Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings	1,431.7				1,431.7		1,394.8	1,370.1
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	3,894.2				3,894.2		3,853.4	4,186.9
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic	$ 0.80	$ 0.69	$ 0.41	$ 0.64	$ 1.89	$ 1.66	$ 2.10	$ 3.00
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted	$ 0.80	$ 0.69	$ 0.41	$ 0.64	$ 1.89	$ 1.66	$ 2.10	$ 2.99
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic	$ 1.20	$ 1.03	$ 0.60	$ 0.96	$ 2.83	$ 2.48	$ 3.14	$ 4.48
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted	$ 1.20	$ 1.03	$ 0.60	$ 0.96	$ 2.83	$ 2.48	$ 3.14	$ 4.48
As Reported [Member]
Cost of products sold			821.3			2,608.8	3,489.8	3,449.8
Gross profit			187.3			585.1	779.7	798.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses				116.4		348.6	469.4	453.3
Operating profit			64.6	85.2		220.0	284.5	330.7
Income before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net			38.6	65.1		151.2	187.1	240.6
Income tax expense		18.9	12.5	24.4		50.5	56.8	65.0
Net income		43.0	26.2	40.0		102.0	131.6	180.4
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.		40.9	24.9	38.5		99.6	126.1	177.5
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents							91.7	127.4
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance							453.9
Inventories							374.3
Prepaid expenses and other current assets							117.2	132.5
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
Total assets							3,856.9	4,188.8
Current liabilities
Other current liabilities							182.6	166.9
Long-term liabilities
Other long-term liabilities							116.2	206.4
Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings							1,404.4	1,376.0
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity							3,856.9	4,188.8
As Reported [Member] | Class A Common Stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ 0.70	$ 0.43	$ 0.66		$ 1.71	$ 2.17	$ 3.05
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ 0.70	$ 0.43	$ 0.66		$ 1.71	$ 2.17	$ 3.04
As Reported [Member] | Class B Common Stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ 1.05	$ 0.63	$ 0.99		$ 2.56	$ 3.24	$ 4.56
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ 1.05	$ 0.63	$ 0.99		$ 2.56	$ 3.24	$ 4.56
Adjustments [Member]
Cost of products sold			0.6			0.1	0.1	0.1
Gross profit			(0.6)			(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.1)
Selling, general and administrative expenses				0.4		1.2	1.6	0.4
Operating profit			(0.6)	(0.4)		(1.3)	(1.7)	(0.5)
Income before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net			(0.6)	(0.4)		(1.3)	(1.7)	(0.5)
Income tax expense		0.7	0.7	0.6		1.7	2.0	2.3
Net income		(0.7)	(1.3)	(1.0)		(3.0)	(3.7)	(2.8)
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.		(0.7)	(1.3)	(1.0)		(3.0)	(3.7)	(2.8)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents							(0.2)	(0.1)
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance							(0.1)
Inventories							(0.8)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets							(2.4)	(1.8)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
Total assets							(3.5)	(1.9)
Current liabilities
Other current liabilities							5.3	3.6
Long-term liabilities
Other long-term liabilities							0.8	0.4
Shareholders' equity
Retained earnings							(9.6)	(5.9)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity							$ (3.5)	$ (1.9)
Adjustments [Member] | Class A Common Stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.05)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.05)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.05)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.05)
Adjustments [Member] | Class B Common Stock [Member]
Basic earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Basic		$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.03)		$ (0.08)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.08)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Greif, Inc. common shareholders:
EPS Diluted		$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.03)		$ (0.08)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.08)