Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 12,459	$ 10,743	$ (12,858)	$ (85,987)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			39,437	40,154
Stock-based compensation			17,272	9,916
Provision for doubtful accounts			1,601	8,612
Asset impairments	141		556	74,610
Equity in earnings			(19)	(630)
Non-cash interest expense			2,814	18,067
Deferred income taxes			9,349	45,915
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income			(2,294)	(2,564)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects from business acquisitions:
Trade accounts receivable			(25,705)	(19,085)
Inventories			(55,684)	(83,339)
Other operating assets and liabilities			8,650	41,504
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(16,881)	47,173
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(47,177)	(46,688)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(9,117)	(5,578)
Net cash used in investing activities			(56,294)	(52,266)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit			11,377	14,807
Payments on lines of credit			(12,326)	(29,172)
Borrowings on long-term debt			127,034	292,467
Payments on long-term debt			(57,513)	(260,818)
Payments of debt issuance costs				(6,308)
Stock option exercises and employee stock purchases			1,335	4,116
Transactions with non-controlling interest owners			(11,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			58,907	15,092
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(13,582)	(4,382)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(27,850)	5,617
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			109,753	120,593
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	81,903	126,210	81,903	126,210
Quiksilver, Inc.[Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	12,610	10,437	(15,115)	(89,156)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			1,598	1,190
Stock-based compensation			17,272	9,916
Equity in earnings	(33,094)	(28,889)	(49,284)	37,864
Non-cash interest expense			1,111	1,034
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income			(322)	33
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects from business acquisitions:
Other operating assets and liabilities			4,623	5,277
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(40,117)	(33,842)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(2,861)	(9,195)
Net cash used in investing activities			(2,861)	(9,195)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Stock option exercises and employee stock purchases			1,335	4,116
Intercompany			41,641	39,034
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			42,976	43,150
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(2)	113
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			17	164
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	15	277	15	277
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	22,763	17,268	9,604	20,136
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			13,338	14,945
Provision for doubtful accounts			(2,530)	2,699
Asset impairments	141		556	465
Equity in earnings				(158)
Non-cash interest expense			1,190	1,291
Deferred income taxes				1,586
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income			36	484
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects from business acquisitions:
Trade accounts receivable			(19,657)	(21,912)
Inventories			(3,095)	(21,504)
Other operating assets and liabilities			416	3,200
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(142)	1,232
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(18,736)	(22,177)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(528)
Net cash used in investing activities			(18,736)	(22,705)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on long-term debt			80,500	21,500
Payments on long-term debt			(43,856)	(1,675)
Transactions with non-controlling interest owners			(11,000)
Intercompany			(5,676)	(37,124)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			19,968	(17,299)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			1,090	(38,772)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			1,331	39,172
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,421	400	2,421	400
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	11,744	14,126	42,964	(52,363)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			24,501	24,019
Provision for doubtful accounts			4,131	5,913
Asset impairments				74,145
Equity in earnings			(19)	(472)
Non-cash interest expense			513	15,742
Deferred income taxes			9,349	44,329
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income			(2,008)	(3,081)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects from business acquisitions:
Trade accounts receivable			(6,048)	2,827
Inventories			(53,616)	(64,303)
Other operating assets and liabilities			3,611	33,027
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			23,378	79,783
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(25,580)	(15,316)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(9,117)	(5,050)
Net cash used in investing activities			(34,697)	(20,366)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit			11,377	14,807
Payments on lines of credit			(12,326)	(29,172)
Borrowings on long-term debt			46,534	270,967
Payments on long-term debt			(13,657)	(259,143)
Payments of debt issuance costs				(6,308)
Intercompany			(35,965)	(1,910)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(4,037)	(10,759)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(13,582)	(4,382)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(28,938)	44,276
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			108,405	81,257
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	79,467	125,533	79,467	125,533
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(34,658)	(31,088)	(50,311)	35,396
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings	33,094	28,889	49,284	(37,864)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects from business acquisitions:
Inventories			$ 1,027	$ 2,468