Defined benefit plan, expected long-term return on diversified portfolio.

No definition available.

Name:	coo_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedLongTermReturnOnDiversifiedPortfolio
Namespace Prefix:	coo_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Projected Accumulated Defined Benefit Obligation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	coo_ProjectedAccumulatedDefinedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	coo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Projected defined benefit plan benefit obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	coo_ProjectedDefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	coo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of payment into the fund established for purposes of making future disbursements to the individual in accordance with the terms and understanding of the deferred compensation arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (k)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) related to gain (loss) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) related to prior service cost (credit) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of fair value of investments (categorized by debt securities, equity securities, real estate and other plan assets) to the fair value of plan assets held.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e2446-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssetAllocations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum percentage of employee gross pay the employee may contribute to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Employee Benefits (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefits (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Nov. 02, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Estimated net loss in the next fiscal year	$ 1,700,000
Estimated prior service cost in the next fiscal year	$ 0
Discount rate for determining benefit obligations at year end	4.25%	4.25%	4.75%
Projected defined benefit plan benefit obligation	$ 107,500,000
Projected defined accumulated benefit obligation	$ 94,600,000
Diversified portfolio, allocation of assets in equities	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Expected long-term return on diversified portfolio	8.00%			8.50%
Company's contribution to the pension plan	$ 10,000,000	$ 8,800,000	$ 6,200,000
Expected future contribution in pension plan	$ 10,000,000
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent	75.00%
Deferral contributions, net of forfeiture credits	$ 4,200,000	$ 4,000,000	$ 3,400,000
Minimum [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Diversified portfolio, allocation of assets in equities	50.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Diversified portfolio, allocation of assets in equities	80.00%