Number Of Divestitures

No definition available.

Name:	gef_NumberOfDivestitures
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Payment of deferred purchase consideration.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gef_PaymentOfDeferredPurchaseConsideration
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2443-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=gef_DivestitureOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=gef_DivestitureThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=gef_DivestitureTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_PaperPackagingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions and Divestitures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2014 Divestiture Company	Oct. 31, 2013 Acquisition Divestiture	Oct. 31, 2012 Acquisition Divestiture
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions completed			2us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired	0us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired	0us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Number of divestitures			9gef_NumberOfDivestitures	0gef_NumberOfDivestitures	0gef_NumberOfDivestitures
Gain or loss on sale of business			$ 11.5us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Gain on sale of business	21.2us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1		11.5us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
Asset impairment charges	70.2us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	26.9us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	85.8us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	31.4us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	13.2us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Proceeds from the sale of businesses			115.3
Deferred cash payment			1.2	46.6	14.3
Other Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of divestitures			4
Gain or loss on sale of business			5.4
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions completed			1
Paper Packaging [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of acquisitions completed			1
Gain or loss on sale of business			4.2
Flexible Products & Services [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain or loss on sale of business			18.3
Asset impairment charges			15.7
Divestiture One [Member] \| Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain or loss on sale of business			(9.1)
Divestiture Two [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of divestitures			2
Divestiture Two [Member] \| Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain or loss on sale of business			(1.8)
Divestiture Three [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain or loss on sale of business			(5.5)
Gain on sale of business			(11.4)
Asset impairment charges			$ 5.9