Taxes on Earnings (Details 4) (USD $)	2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			15 Months Ended	70 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2008	Oct. 31, 2013 Item	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2009	Aug. 26, 2008
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance at beginning of year		$ 2,573,000,000	$ 2,118,000,000	$ 2,085,000,000
Increases:
For current year's tax positions		290,000,000	209,000,000	384,000,000
For prior years' tax positions		997,000,000	651,000,000	426,000,000
Decreases:
For prior years' tax positions		(146,000,000)	(321,000,000)	(159,000,000)
Statute of limitations expiration		(11,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(20,000,000)
Settlements with taxing authorities		(219,000,000)	(83,000,000)	(598,000,000)
Balance at end of year		3,484,000,000	2,573,000,000	2,118,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate if realized		1,900,000,000	1,400,000,000	1,100,000,000
Accrued income tax for interest and penalties		196,000,000
Likelihood of no resolution period		12 months
Likelihood of conclusion period for certain federal, foreign and state tax issues		12 months
Reasonably possible decrease in existing unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months		1,100,000,000
Number of other countries in which HP is subject to income taxes		80
Income tax examination, reduction in tax benefits		446,000,000
Income tax examination, additional tax payable	62,000,000				62,000,000	320,000,000
Income tax examination, proposed assessment amount		680,000,000
Undistributed earnings from non-U.S. operations		$ 38,200,000,000