Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Summary of Changes in Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Beginning balance, value	$ 1,059.9	$ 1,223.2
Net income	(9.9)	28.2
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(28.3)	(74.6)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of income tax expense		0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)	1.9	5.5
Comprehensive income (loss)	(36.3)	(40.8)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(22.0)
Noncontrolling interests, loan conversion and other	(0.4)	(11.8)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(24.5)	(24.5)
Stock options exercised		0.1
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0.0
Long-term incentive shares issued	1.1	2.1
Ending balance, value	958.1	1,148.3
Out of Period [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(19.8)
Current Period [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(0.1)
Capital Stock [Member]
Beginning balance, value	$ 139.1	$ 135.5
Beginning balance, shares	47,814	47,724
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Stock options exercised		$ 0.1
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	$ 0.0
Stock options exercised, Shares		6
Long-term incentive shares issued	$ 1.0	$ 2.0
Long-term incentive shares issued, Shares	41	49
Ending balance, value	$ 140.1	$ 137.6
Ending balance, shares	47,855	47,779
Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning balance, value	$ (130.6)	$ (130.7)
Beginning balance, shares	29,028	29,118
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	$ 0.0
Stock options exercised, Shares		(6)
Long-term incentive shares issued	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Long-term incentive shares issued, Shares	(41)	(49)
Ending balance, value	$ (130.5)	$ (130.6)
Ending balance, shares	28,987	29,063
Retained Earnings [Member]
Beginning balance, value	$ 1,384.5	$ 1,411.7
Net income	(11.1)	30.1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest	1.2
Noncontrolling interests, loan conversion and other		(0.4)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(24.5)	(24.5)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0.0
Ending balance, value	1,330.4	1,416.9
Retained Earnings [Member] | Out of Period [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(19.8)
Retained Earnings [Member] | Current Period [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(0.1)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Beginning balance, value	(377.4)	(274.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(24.7)	(60.5)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of income tax expense		0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)	1.9	5.5
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0.0
Ending balance, value	(400.2)	(329.3)
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance, value	44.3	81.1
Net income	1.2	(1.9)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(3.6)	(14.1)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(23.2)
Noncontrolling interests, loan conversion and other	(0.4)	(11.4)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0.0
Ending balance, value	18.3	53.7
Parent Company [Member]
Beginning balance, value	1,015.6	1,142.1
Net income	(11.1)	30.1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(24.7)	(60.5)
Net reclassification of cash flow hedges to earnings, net of income tax expense		0.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit)	1.9	5.5
Comprehensive income (loss)	(33.9)	(24.8)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interest	1.2
Noncontrolling interests, loan conversion and other		(0.4)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(24.5)	(24.5)
Stock options exercised		0.1
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0.0
Long-term incentive shares issued	1.1	2.1
Ending balance, value	939.8	$ 1,094.6
Parent Company [Member] | Out of Period [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(19.8)
Parent Company [Member] | Current Period [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ (0.1)