Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock Par Net Value [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning Balance at Oct. 31, 2012	$ 2,213,158	$ 4,844	$ (64,753)	$ 101	$ 1,265,202	$ (31,261)	$ 1,018,618	$ 20,407
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2012		48,440,000	1,007,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	296,151						296,151
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	15,499					15,499
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	19,287	$ 98	$ 6,170	(9)	13,028
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		976,000	(88,000)
Treasury stock repurchase	$ (167,334)	$ (142)	$ (167,334)	142
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)	(1,400,000)	(1,421,000)	1,421,000
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	$ 21,799				21,799
Dividends on common stock	(2,918)						(2,918)
Share-based compensation expense	28,538				28,538
Purchase of shares from noncontrolling interests	(300)				(762)			(1,062)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,141)							(1,141)
Noncontrolling interests	755							755
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2013		47,995,000	2,340,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2013	2,423,494	$ 4,800	$ (225,917)	234	1,329,329	(15,762)	1,311,851	18,959
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	269,856						269,856
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(90,420)					(90,420)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	8,585	$ 72	$ 7,033	(7)	1,487
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		720,000	(72,000)
Treasury stock repurchase	$ (75,778)	$ (57)	$ (75,778)	57
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)	(571,939)	(572,000)	572,000
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	$ 19,469				19,469
Dividends on common stock	(2,884)						(2,884)
Share-based compensation expense	36,515				36,515
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,370)							(2,370)
Noncontrolling interests	1,973				0			1,973
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2014		48,143,000	2,840,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2014	2,588,440	$ 4,815	$ (294,662)	284	1,386,800	(106,182)	1,578,823	18,562
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	203,523						203,523
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(85,461)					(85,461)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	(4,816)	$ 59	$ 1,817	(2)	(6,690)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		593,000	(18,000)
Treasury stock repurchase	$ (67,304)	$ (47)	$ (67,304)	47
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)	(467,539)	(468,000)	468,000
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	$ 18,268				18,268
Dividends on common stock	(2,906)						(2,906)
Share-based compensation expense	32,879				32,879
Purchase of shares from noncontrolling interests	(8,070)				3,448			(11,518)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(714)							(714)
Noncontrolling interests	65							65
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2015		48,268,000	3,290,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2015	$ 2,673,904	$ 4,827	$ (360,149)	$ 329	$ 1,434,705	$ (191,643)	$ 1,779,440	$ 6,395