Business Segment Information (Schedule of Information by Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 561,500	$ 556,000	$ 522,400	$ 499,100	$ 518,700	$ 514,700	$ 483,800	$ 449,600	$ 2,139,000	$ 1,966,800	$ 1,797,100
Operating income (loss)									429,100	324,100	236,700
Interest expense									33,400	26,200	18,100
Other expense, net									1,700	2,300	3,100
Income before income taxes	96,600	$ 107,700	$ 109,500	$ 80,100	68,900	$ 93,400	$ 82,600	$ 50,700	394,000	295,600	215,500
Identifiable assets	4,858,700				4,478,600				4,858,700	4,478,600	4,462,500
Depreciation expense									120,000	137,500	139,900
Amortization expense									68,400	60,800	51,500
Capital expenditures									127,200	152,600	243,000
Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,674,100	1,577,200	1,487,800
Operating income (loss)									418,400	309,800	229,800
Identifiable assets	3,562,600				3,382,400				3,562,600	3,382,400	3,714,600
Depreciation expense									115,000	131,300	134,000
Amortization expense									36,700	40,100	36,600
Capital expenditures									108,200	142,800	238,300
CooperSurgical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									464,900	389,600	309,300
Operating income (loss)									58,500	60,200	56,100
Identifiable assets	1,107,500				907,100				1,107,500	907,100	674,900
Depreciation expense									4,700	5,900	5,600
Amortization expense									31,700	20,700	14,900
Capital expenditures									18,900	9,800	4,600
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									(47,800)	(45,900)	(49,200)
Identifiable assets	$ 188,600				$ 189,100				188,600	189,100	73,000
Depreciation expense									300	300	300
Amortization expense									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									$ 100	$ 0	$ 100