Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Jan. 23, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	R F INDUSTRIES LTD
Entity Central Index Key	0000740664
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 16.1
Trading Symbol	RFIL
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		8,835,483