Business Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 445,171us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 404,980us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating income (loss)	73,108us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	81,622us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense	3,941us-gaap_InterestExpense	1,656us-gaap_InterestExpense
Other expense, net	1,702us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	510us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income before income taxes	67,465	79,456
CooperVision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	369,332	326,303
Operating income (loss)	73,160	84,146
CooperSurgical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	75,839	78,677
Operating income (loss)	13,223	14,156
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(13,275)	(16,680)
Toric Lens [Member] \| CooperVision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	108,464	101,196
Multifocal Lens [Member] \| CooperVision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	42,470	33,695
Single-Use Sphere Lens [Member] \| CooperVision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	84,201	68,772
Non Single-Use Sphere And Other Eye Care Products And Other [Member] \| CooperVision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 134,197	$ 122,640

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7)

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

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

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