Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,532,800	$ 2,139,000	$ 1,966,800
Cost of sales	900,500	773,200	793,700
Gross profit	1,632,300	1,365,800	1,173,100
Selling, general and administrative expense	973,300	799,100	722,800
Research and development expense	84,800	69,200	65,400
Amortization of intangibles	146,700	68,400	60,800
Impairment of intangibles	24,400	0	0
Operating income	403,100	429,100	324,100
Interest expense	82,700	33,400	26,200
Other (income) expense, net	(11,500)	1,700	2,300
Income before income taxes	331,900	394,000	295,600
Provision for income taxes	192,000	21,100	20,700
Net income	139,900	372,900	274,900
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	1,000
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	$ 139,900	$ 372,900	$ 273,900
Earnings per share - basic	$ 2.85	$ 7.63	$ 5.65
Earnings per share - diluted	$ 2.81	$ 7.52	$ 5.59
Number of shares used to compute earnings per share:
Basic (shares)	49.1	48.9	48.5
Diluted (shares)	49.7	49.6	49.0