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Acquisitions and Divestitures - Acquisitions (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Company
Oct. 31, 2013
Acquisition
Oct. 31, 2012
Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Number of Acquisitions 2us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired 0us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired 0us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Purchase Price, net of Cash $ 53.5us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired    
Goodwill 880.2us-gaap_Goodwill 998.4us-gaap_Goodwill 971.0us-gaap_Goodwill
Total 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Number of Acquisitions 2us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gef_TwoThousandFourteenAcquisitionsMember
   
Purchase Price, net of Cash 53.5us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gef_TwoThousandFourteenAcquisitionsMember
   
Tangible Assets, net 2.5us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gef_TwoThousandFourteenAcquisitionsMember
   
Intangible Assets 22.1us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gef_TwoThousandFourteenAcquisitionsMember
   
Goodwill $ 25.9us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= gef_TwoThousandFourteenAcquisitionsMember