Taxes on Earnings (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Taxes on Earnings
Tax benefit (deficit) from the exercise of employee stock options and other employee stock programs	$ (149)	$ (175)	$ 128
Differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate and HP's effective tax rate
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit (as a percent)	0.10%	0.50%	0.50%
Lower rates in other jurisdictions, net (as a percent)	(24.50%)	13.90%	(23.30%)
Research and development credit (as a percent)	(0.70%)	0.10%	(0.60%)
Valuation allowance (as a percent)	3.80%	(14.00%)	5.20%
Nondeductible goodwill (as a percent)		(40.30%)	3.40%
Uncertain tax positions	4.10%	(1.40%)	(1.10%)
Other, net (as a percent)	3.70%	0.20%	2.10%
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	21.50%	(6.00%)	21.20%