Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 81,903	$ 109,753	$ 126,210	$ 120,593
Trade accounts receivable, net	398,522	397,089
Other receivables	31,444	23,190
Income taxes receivable		4,265
Inventories	391,052	347,757
Deferred income taxes	14,691	32,808
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	32,678	25,429
Total current assets	950,290	940,291
Fixed assets, net	233,842	238,107
Intangible assets, net	136,745	138,143
Goodwill	258,815	268,589
Other assets	48,267	55,814
Deferred income taxes	99,125	123,279
Total assets	1,727,084	1,764,223
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Lines of credit	15,032	18,335
Accounts payable	233,523	203,023
Accrued liabilities	111,140	132,944
Income taxes payable	3,652
Total current liabilities	407,987	358,930
Long-term debt, net of current portion	723,772	724,723
Current portion of long-term debt	44,640	4,628
Other long-term liabilities	32,249	57,948
Total liabilities	1,164,008	1,141,601
Stockholders'/invested equity	553,329	610,098
Non-controlling interest	9,747	12,524
Total liabilities and equity	1,727,084	1,764,223
Quiksilver, Inc.[Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	15	17	277	164
Other receivables	25	122
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,373	2,378
Total current assets	2,413	2,517
Fixed assets, net	18,384	17,602
Intangible assets, net	3,134	3,007
Other assets	3,175	4,457
Investment in subsidiaries	1,083,565	1,082,427
Total assets	1,110,671	1,110,010
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	2,192	2,510
Accrued liabilities	13,033	6,673
Intercompany balances	142,117	90,729
Total current liabilities	157,342	99,912
Long-term debt, net of current portion	400,000	400,000
Total liabilities	557,342	499,912
Stockholders'/invested equity	553,329	610,098
Total liabilities and equity	1,110,671	1,110,010
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,421	1,331	400	39,172
Trade accounts receivable, net	172,969	150,782
Other receivables	5,053	5,918
Income taxes receivable		21,338
Inventories	118,236	115,456
Deferred income taxes	(1,182)	(1,182)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	12,237	8,525
Total current assets	309,734	302,168
Fixed assets, net	69,887	64,943
Intangible assets, net	48,025	48,743
Goodwill	112,216	112,216
Other assets	3,177	3,936
Deferred income taxes	(16,682)	(16,682)
Total assets	526,357	515,324
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	98,037	88,280
Accrued liabilities	29,118	30,088
Income taxes payable	(7,199)
Intercompany balances	(82,808)	(44,001)
Total current liabilities	45,742	77,367
Long-term debt, net of current portion	75,700	36,542
Current portion of long-term debt	8,594	3,000
Other long-term liabilities	20,515	41,219
Total liabilities	141,957	155,128
Stockholders'/invested equity	376,788	347,995
Non-controlling interest	7,612	12,201
Total liabilities and equity	526,357	515,324
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	79,467	108,405	125,533	81,257
Trade accounts receivable, net	225,553	246,307
Other receivables	26,366	17,150
Income taxes receivable		(17,073)
Inventories	274,380	234,266
Deferred income taxes	15,873	33,990
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,068	14,526
Total current assets	639,707	637,571
Fixed assets, net	145,571	155,562
Intangible assets, net	85,586	86,393
Goodwill	146,599	156,373
Other assets	41,915	47,421
Deferred income taxes	115,807	139,961
Total assets	1,175,185	1,223,281
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Lines of credit	15,032	18,335
Accounts payable	133,294	112,233
Accrued liabilities	68,989	96,183
Income taxes payable	10,851
Intercompany balances	(59,309)	(46,728)
Total current liabilities	204,903	181,651
Long-term debt, net of current portion	248,072	288,181
Current portion of long-term debt	36,046	1,628
Other long-term liabilities	11,734	16,729
Total liabilities	464,709	486,561
Stockholders'/invested equity	708,341	736,397
Non-controlling interest	2,135	323
Total liabilities and equity	1,175,185	1,223,281
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Inventories	(1,564)	(1,965)
Total current assets	(1,564)	(1,965)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,083,565)	(1,082,427)
Total assets	(1,085,129)	(1,084,392)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Stockholders'/invested equity	(1,085,129)	(1,084,392)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,085,129)	$ (1,084,392)