Subsidiary Guarantors for Credit Agreement, Term Loan and 2012 Notes - Condensed Consolidated Statements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013	Oct. 26, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	$ 3,778,310	$ 5,012,697	$ 5,660,889
Cost of sales	2,667,158	3,389,484	3,783,802
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	606,347	680,001	736,776
Intangible asset impairment charges	0	155,200	0
Other (income) and expense	(12,335)	(33,649)	(32,248)
Operating income	517,140	821,661	1,172,559
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	461,792	764,157	1,105,131
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	130,755	230,219	337,870
Income from continuing operations	331,037	533,938	767,261
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	(180)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	331,037	533,938	767,081
Comprehensive income	303,389	534,728	649,635
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	(180)
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	303,389	534,728	649,455
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	270,191	405,709	263,873
Accounts receivable, net	1,059,709	1,083,663
Inventories	1,108,308	1,139,744
Other current assets	180,151	193,328
Total current assets	2,618,359	2,822,444
Property, plant and equipment, net	892,440	912,642
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net	319,269	331,812
Goodwill	1,516,693	1,480,519	1,382,358
Deferred income taxes	70,181	41,532
Other non-current assets	180,044	200,633
Total other assets	2,086,187	2,054,496
Total assets	5,596,986	5,789,582	6,142,503
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations	11,739	58,669
Trade accounts payable	395,945	388,119
Employee compensation and benefits	136,911	130,555
Advance payments and progress billings	285,939	399,768
Accrued warranties	67,272	85,732	100,646
Other accrued liabilities	265,600	286,063
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	11,582	11,684
Total current liabilities	1,174,988	1,360,590
Long-term obligations	1,269,541	1,256,927
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits	19,609	20,723
Accrued pension costs	144,379	149,805
Other non-current liabilities	147,472	143,168
Total other liabilities	311,460	313,696
Shareholders’ equity	2,840,997	2,858,369	2,577,189	1,951,795
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	5,596,986	5,789,582
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations	363,441	638,538	463,915
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations	(102)	(1,688)	(21,054)
Net cash provided by operating activities	363,339	636,850	442,861
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(44,426)	0	(955,917)
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(91,077)	(153,418)	(241,527)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	9,963	3,555	7,917
Working capital adjustment from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.	0	0	(56,270)
Withdrawals of cash held in escrow	0	0	866,000
Other investing activities, net	53	(112)	1,468
Net cash used by investing activities	(125,487)	(149,975)	(378,329)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	13,346	7,575	12,148
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	1,632	1,728	21,250
Dividends paid	(74,945)	(74,325)	(73,961)
Borrowings under term loans	0	0	(250,000)
Repayments of term loans	(37,500)	(50,000)	(281,250)
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	2,332	(7,374)	(4,492)
Treasury stock purchased	(269,336)	(214,106)	0
Financing fees	(2,826)	0	(5,304)
Net cash used by financing activities	(367,297)	(336,502)	(81,609)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6,073)	(8,537)	(7,371)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(135,518)	141,836	(24,448)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	405,709	263,873	288,321
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	270,191	405,709	263,873
Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	0	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0	0
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	53,076	53,051	69,012
Intangible asset impairment charges		0
Other (income) and expense	(473)	(15,000)	0
Operating income	(52,603)	(38,051)	(69,012)
Intercompany items	64,185	114,784	66,366
Interest (expense) income, net	(63,639)	(64,665)	(52,244)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(52,057)	12,068	(54,890)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(42,712)	(50,908)	(65,450)
Equity in income of subsidiaries	340,382	470,962	756,701
Income from continuing operations			767,261
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest			(180)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	331,037	533,938	767,081
Comprehensive income			649,635
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(180)
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	303,389	534,728	649,455
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	54,874	122,901	3,459
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Other current assets	87,945	68,792
Total current assets	142,819	191,693
Property, plant and equipment, net	23,660	18,081
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	159	(49,393)
Other non-current assets	4,191,771	4,168,916
Total other assets	4,191,930	4,119,523
Total assets	4,358,409	4,329,297
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations	0	50,000
Trade accounts payable	3,134	2,565
Employee compensation and benefits	11,639	10,080
Advance payments and progress billings	0	0
Accrued warranties	0	0
Other accrued liabilities	94,097	24,545
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current liabilities	108,870	87,190
Long-term obligations	1,269,459	1,256,164
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits	18,743	19,881
Accrued pension costs	132,448	136,886
Other non-current liabilities	(12,108)	(29,193)
Total other liabilities	139,083	127,574
Shareholders’ equity	2,840,997	2,858,369
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,358,409	4,329,297
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations	306,292	457,171	145,654
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	306,292	457,171	145,654
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0		(1,028,829)
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(4,706)	(8,489)	(2,274)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0	0
Working capital adjustment from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.			0
Withdrawals of cash held in escrow			866,000
Other investing activities, net	16	(112)	(156)
Net cash used by investing activities	(4,690)	(8,601)	(165,259)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	13,346	7,575	12,148
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	1,632	1,728	21,250
Dividends paid	(74,945)	(74,325)	(73,961)
Borrowings under term loans			(250,000)
Repayments of term loans	(37,500)	(50,000)	(281,250)
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	0	0	0
Treasury stock purchased	(269,336)	(214,106)
Financing fees	(2,826)		(5,304)
Net cash used by financing activities	(369,629)	(329,128)	(77,117)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(68,027)	119,442	(96,722)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	122,901	3,459	100,181
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	54,874	122,901	3,459
Supplemental Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	2,127,333	2,745,565	3,275,658
Cost of sales	1,558,666	1,915,612	2,249,895
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	239,669	306,249	328,486
Intangible asset impairment charges		100,400
Other (income) and expense	12,667	34,101	26,730
Operating income	316,331	389,203	670,547
Intercompany items	(77,048)	(79,519)	(53,331)
Interest (expense) income, net	6,750	3,225	892
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	246,033	312,909	618,108
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	148,167	207,181	309,207
Equity in income of subsidiaries	165,942	397,610	393,246
Income from continuing operations			702,147
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest			0
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	263,808	503,338	702,147
Comprehensive income			695,349
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			0
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	266,108	504,446	695,349
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	16,429	20,361	5,307
Accounts receivable, net	391,672	402,321
Inventories	470,194	456,345
Other current assets	9,520	16,957
Total current assets	887,815	895,984
Property, plant and equipment, net	345,117	373,235
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net	228,950	247,200
Goodwill	453,374	454,199
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Other non-current assets	2,106,760	2,070,239
Total other assets	2,789,084	2,771,638
Total assets	4,022,016	4,040,857
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations	11,634	449
Trade accounts payable	214,603	165,045
Employee compensation and benefits	58,374	52,260
Advance payments and progress billings	117,768	144,853
Accrued warranties	17,002	30,111
Other accrued liabilities	54,523	54,285
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	11,582	11,684
Total current liabilities	485,486	458,687
Long-term obligations	0	763
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits	866	842
Accrued pension costs	7,529	5,685
Other non-current liabilities	7,780	7,851
Total other liabilities	16,175	14,378
Shareholders’ equity	3,520,355	3,567,029
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,022,016	4,040,857
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations	3,418	59,845	178,700
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations	(102)	(1,688)	(21,054)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,316	58,157	157,646
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0		0
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(23,130)	(43,789)	(113,650)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	6,512	1,111	905
Working capital adjustment from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.			(56,270)
Withdrawals of cash held in escrow			0
Other investing activities, net	(1,052)	0	928
Net cash used by investing activities	(17,670)	(42,678)	(168,087)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	0	0	0
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Borrowings under term loans			0
Repayments of term loans	0	0	0
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	10,422	(425)	(404)
Treasury stock purchased	0	0
Financing fees	0		0
Net cash used by financing activities	10,422	(425)	(404)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3,932)	15,054	(10,845)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	20,361	5,307	16,152
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	16,429	20,361	5,307
Supplemental Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	2,568,580	3,702,376	3,851,960
Cost of sales	1,873,753	2,659,136	2,729,720
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	313,602	320,701	339,278
Intangible asset impairment charges		54,800
Other (income) and expense	(24,529)	(52,750)	(58,978)
Operating income	405,754	720,489	841,940
Intercompany items	(29,099)	(151,571)	(113,029)
Interest (expense) income, net	1,541	3,936	(16,076)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	378,196	572,854	712,835
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	25,300	73,946	94,113
Equity in income of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations			618,722
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest			(180)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	352,896	498,908	618,542
Comprehensive income			600,381
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(180)
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	312,855	479,375	600,201
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	198,888	262,447	255,107
Accounts receivable, net	684,299	687,790
Inventories	753,922	813,182
Other current assets	82,671	107,564
Total current assets	1,719,780	1,870,983
Property, plant and equipment, net	527,286	521,326
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net	90,319	84,612
Goodwill	1,063,319	1,026,320
Deferred income taxes	70,022	90,925
Other non-current assets	2,640,582	3,963,205
Total other assets	3,864,242	5,165,062
Total assets	6,111,308	7,557,371
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations	105	8,220
Trade accounts payable	178,208	220,509
Employee compensation and benefits	66,898	68,215
Advance payments and progress billings	193,165	269,628
Accrued warranties	50,270	55,621
Other accrued liabilities	124,244	211,074
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current liabilities	612,890	833,267
Long-term obligations	82	0
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits	0	0
Accrued pension costs	4,402	7,234
Other non-current liabilities	151,800	164,510
Total other liabilities	156,202	171,744
Shareholders’ equity	5,342,134	6,552,360
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	6,111,308	7,557,371
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations	53,731	121,522	139,561
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	53,731	121,522	139,561
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(44,426)		72,912
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(63,241)	(101,140)	(125,603)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	3,451	2,444	7,012
Working capital adjustment from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.			0
Withdrawals of cash held in escrow			0
Other investing activities, net	1,089	0	696
Net cash used by investing activities	(103,127)	(98,696)	(44,983)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	0	0	0
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Borrowings under term loans			0
Repayments of term loans	0	0	0
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	(8,090)	(6,949)	(4,088)
Treasury stock purchased	0	0
Financing fees	0		0
Net cash used by financing activities	(8,090)	(6,949)	(4,088)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6,073)	(8,537)	(7,371)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(63,559)	7,340	83,119
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	262,447	255,107	171,988
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	198,888	262,447	255,107
Eliminations Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	(917,603)	(1,435,244)	(1,466,729)
Cost of sales	(765,261)	(1,185,264)	(1,195,813)
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0
Intangible asset impairment charges		0
Other (income) and expense	0	0	0
Operating income	(152,342)	(249,980)	(270,916)
Intercompany items	41,962	116,306	99,994
Interest (expense) income, net	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(110,380)	(133,674)	(170,922)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0
Equity in income of subsidiaries	(506,324)	(868,572)	(1,149,947)
Income from continuing operations			(1,320,869)
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest			180
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(616,704)	(1,002,246)	(1,320,689)
Comprehensive income			(1,295,730)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			180
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(578,963)	(983,821)	(1,295,550)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(16,262)	(6,448)
Inventories	(115,808)	(129,783)
Other current assets	15	15
Total current assets	(132,055)	(136,216)
Property, plant and equipment, net	(3,623)	0
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Other non-current assets	(8,759,069)	(10,001,727)
Total other assets	(8,759,069)	(10,001,727)
Total assets	(8,894,747)	(10,137,943)
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations	0	0
Trade accounts payable	0	0
Employee compensation and benefits	0	0
Advance payments and progress billings	(24,994)	(14,713)
Accrued warranties	0	0
Other accrued liabilities	(7,264)	(3,841)
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	0	0
Total current liabilities	(32,258)	(18,554)
Long-term obligations	0	0
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits	0	0
Accrued pension costs	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	0	0
Total other liabilities	0	0
Shareholders’ equity	(8,862,489)	(10,119,389)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	(8,894,747)	(10,137,943)
Financing Activities:
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	0	0
Consolidated
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	3,778,310	5,012,697	5,660,889
Cost of sales	2,667,158	3,389,484	3,783,802
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	606,347	680,001	736,776
Intangible asset impairment charges		155,200
Other (income) and expense	(12,335)	(33,649)	(32,248)
Operating income	517,140	821,661	1,172,559
Intercompany items	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net	(55,348)	(57,504)	(67,428)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	461,792	764,157	1,105,131
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	130,755	230,219	337,870
Equity in income of subsidiaries	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations			767,261
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interest			(180)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	331,037	533,938	767,081
Comprehensive income			649,635
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(180)
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	303,389	534,728	649,455
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	270,191	405,709	263,873
Accounts receivable, net	1,059,709	1,083,663
Inventories	1,108,308	1,139,744
Other current assets	180,151	193,328
Total current assets	2,618,359	2,822,444
Property, plant and equipment, net	892,440	912,642
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net	319,269	331,812
Goodwill	1,516,693	1,480,519
Deferred income taxes	70,181	41,532
Other non-current assets	180,044	200,633
Total other assets	2,086,187	2,054,496
Total assets	5,596,986	5,789,582
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations	11,739	58,669
Trade accounts payable	395,945	388,119
Employee compensation and benefits	136,911	130,555
Advance payments and progress billings	285,939	399,768
Accrued warranties	67,272	85,732
Other accrued liabilities	265,600	286,063
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	11,582	11,684
Total current liabilities	1,174,988	1,360,590
Long-term obligations	1,269,541	1,256,927
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits	19,609	20,723
Accrued pension costs	144,379	149,805
Other non-current liabilities	147,472	143,168
Total other liabilities	311,460	313,696
Shareholders’ equity	2,840,997	2,858,369
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	5,596,986	5,789,582
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations	363,441	638,538	463,915
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations	(102)	(1,688)	(21,054)
Net cash provided by operating activities	363,339	636,850	442,861
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(44,426)		(955,917)
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(91,077)	(153,418)	(241,527)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	9,963	3,555	7,917
Working capital adjustment from sale of LeTourneau Technologies Drilling Systems, Inc.			(56,270)
Withdrawals of cash held in escrow			866,000
Other investing activities, net	53	(112)	1,468
Net cash used by investing activities	(125,487)	(149,975)	(378,329)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	13,346	7,575	12,148
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	1,632	1,728	21,250
Dividends paid	(74,945)	(74,325)	(73,961)
Borrowings under term loans			(250,000)
Repayments of term loans	(37,500)	(50,000)	(281,250)
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	2,332	(7,374)	(4,492)
Treasury stock purchased	(269,336)	(214,106)
Financing fees	(2,826)		(5,304)
Net cash used by financing activities	(367,297)	(336,502)	(81,609)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6,073)	(8,537)	(7,371)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(135,518)	141,836	(24,448)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	405,709	263,873	288,321
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	$ 270,191	$ 405,709	$ 263,873