Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 68,361	$ 41,823	$ 94,435	$ 109,753
Trade accounts receivable, net	339,580	433,743
Other receivables	31,869	32,818
Income taxes receivable	1,010
Inventories	419,191	344,746
Deferred income taxes	27,612	26,368
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	37,915	26,371
Total current assets	925,538	905,869
Fixed assets, net	239,950	238,313
Intangible assets, net	140,090	139,449
Goodwill	277,250	273,167
Other assets	45,463	47,789
Deferred income taxes long-term	119,661	113,653
Total assets	1,747,952	1,718,240	1,718,240
Current liabilities:
Lines of credit	11,897	18,147
Accounts payable	221,696	203,572
Accrued liabilities	109,842	114,891
Current portion of long-term debt	42,358	18,647
Income taxes payable		1,359
Total current liabilities	385,793	356,616
Long-term debt, net of current portion	734,191	721,175
Other long-term liabilities	37,592	38,213
Total liabilities	1,157,576	1,116,004
Stockholders'/invested equity	570,901	583,310
Non-controlling interest	19,475	18,926
Total liabilities and equity	1,747,952	1,718,240
Quiksilver, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	419	324	327	17
Other receivables	(29)	20
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,842	2,277
Total current assets	4,232	2,621
Fixed assets, net	19,698	18,802
Intangible assets, net	3,516	3,228
Other assets	2,329	2,753
Investment in subsidiaries	1,095,771	1,087,924
Total assets	1,125,546	1,115,328
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,443	6,995
Accrued liabilities	11,027	6,189
Intercompany balances	139,175	118,834
Total current liabilities	154,645	132,018
Long-term debt, net of current portion	400,000	400,000
Total liabilities	554,645	532,018
Stockholders'/invested equity	570,901	583,310
Total liabilities and equity	1,125,546	1,115,328
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	292	135	255	1,331
Trade accounts receivable, net	121,059	181,945
Other receivables	7,461	6,158
Income taxes receivable	(656)
Inventories	136,978	107,722
Deferred income taxes	5,209	5,209
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,360	9,548
Total current assets	280,703	310,717
Fixed assets, net	61,768	64,496
Intangible assets, net	48,526	47,746
Goodwill	112,216	112,216
Other assets	2,398	2,677
Deferred income taxes long-term	(23,550)	(23,550)
Investment in subsidiaries	5,550	5,028
Total assets	487,611	519,330
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	96,400	95,355
Accrued liabilities	23,327	28,343
Current portion of long-term debt	7,094	8,594
Income taxes payable		(117)
Intercompany balances	108,829	(95,809)
Total current liabilities	17,992	36,366
Long-term debt, net of current portion	62,000	60,700
Other long-term liabilities	24,347	25,241
Total liabilities	104,339	122,307
Stockholders'/invested equity	383,272	397,023
Total liabilities and equity	487,611	519,330
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	67,650	41,364	93,853	108,405
Trade accounts receivable, net	218,521	251,798
Other receivables	24,437	26,640
Income taxes receivable	1,666
Inventories	281,239	237,465
Deferred income taxes	22,403	21,159
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	23,713	14,546
Total current assets	639,629	592,972
Fixed assets, net	158,484	155,015
Intangible assets, net	88,048	88,475
Goodwill	165,034	160,951
Other assets	40,736	42,359
Deferred income taxes long-term	143,211	137,203
Total assets	1,235,142	1,176,975
Current liabilities:
Lines of credit	11,897	18,147
Accounts payable	120,853	101,222
Accrued liabilities	75,488	80,359
Current portion of long-term debt	35,264	10,053
Income taxes payable		1,476
Intercompany balances	(30,346)	(23,025)
Total current liabilities	213,156	188,232
Long-term debt, net of current portion	272,191	260,475
Other long-term liabilities	13,245	12,972
Total liabilities	498,592	461,679
Stockholders'/invested equity	717,075	696,370
Non-controlling interest	19,475	18,926
Total liabilities and equity	1,235,142	1,176,975
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Inventories	974	(441)
Total current assets	974	(441)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,101,321)	(1,092,952)
Total assets	(1,100,347)	(1,093,393)
Current liabilities:
Stockholders'/invested equity	(1,100,347)	(1,093,393)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,100,347)	$ (1,093,393)