Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Nov. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	NDSN
Entity Registrant Name	NORDSON CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000072331
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		57,927,038
Entity Public Float			$ 7,441,507