Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	$ 458,748	$ 492,213	$ 889,766	$ 941,834
Cost of goods sold	247,612	250,064	458,923	471,735
Gross profit	211,136	242,149	430,843	470,099
Selling, general and administrative expense	218,204	224,010	443,463	454,425
Asset impairments	5,332	415	8,500	415
Operating (loss)/income	(12,400)	17,724	(21,120)	15,259
Interest expense	15,289	15,585	30,796	30,630
Foreign currency (gain)/loss	(2,618)	(609)	555	(2,459)
(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes	(25,071)	2,748	(52,471)	(12,912)
Provision for income taxes	7,147	7,155	10,371	12,405
Net loss	(32,218)	(4,407)	(62,842)	(25,317)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest	(177)	(713)	(682)	(2,408)
Net loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(32,395)	(5,120)	(63,524)	(27,725)
Other comprehensive loss	(16,723)	(1,271)	(8,613)	(21,031)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(49,118)	(6,391)	(72,137)	(48,756)
Quiksilver, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	116	120	232	236
Gross profit	116	120	232	236
Selling, general and administrative expense	11,753	12,869	27,728	29,785
Operating (loss)/income	(11,637)	(12,749)	(27,496)	(29,549)
Interest expense	7,269	7,239	14,538	14,479
Foreign currency (gain)/loss	(28)	13	126	(113)
Equity in earnings and other income	13,517	(14,881)	21,364	(16,190)
(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes	(32,395)	(5,120)	(63,524)	(27,725)
Net loss	(32,395)	(5,120)	(63,524)	(27,725)
Net loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(32,395)	(5,120)	(63,524)	(27,725)
Other comprehensive loss	(16,723)	(1,271)	(8,613)	(21,031)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(49,118)	(6,391)	(72,137)	(48,756)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	190,265	185,686	356,011	357,063
Cost of goods sold	117,488	109,044	221,220	214,250
Gross profit	72,777	76,642	134,791	142,813
Selling, general and administrative expense	72,999	74,934	147,187	152,431
Asset impairments	4,988	415	6,323	415
Operating (loss)/income	(5,210)	1,293	(18,719)	(10,033)
Interest expense	1,386	1,391	2,854	2,685
Foreign currency (gain)/loss	198	212	363	9
Equity in earnings and other income	(483)	482	(687)	1,733
(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes	(6,311)	(792)	(21,249)	(14,460)
Provision for income taxes	1,654	216	467	432
Net loss	(7,965)	(1,008)	(21,716)	(14,892)
Net loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(7,965)	(1,008)	(21,716)	(14,892)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(7,965)	(1,008)	(21,716)	(14,892)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	290,111	328,589	587,455	633,616
Cost of goods sold	144,071	155,662	277,756	291,845
Gross profit	146,040	172,927	309,699	341,771
Selling, general and administrative expense	141,282	144,422	283,436	287,467
Asset impairments	344		2,177
Operating (loss)/income	4,414	28,505	24,086	54,304
Interest expense	6,634	6,955	13,404	13,466
Foreign currency (gain)/loss	(2,788)	(834)	66	(2,355)
(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes	568	22,384	10,616	43,193
Provision for income taxes	5,493	6,939	9,904	11,973
Net loss	(4,925)	15,445	712	31,220
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest	(177)	(713)	(682)	(2,408)
Net loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(5,102)	14,732	30	28,812
Other comprehensive loss	(16,723)	(1,271)	(8,613)	(21,031)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	(21,825)	13,461	(8,583)	7,781
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues, net	(21,744)	(22,182)	(53,932)	(49,081)
Cost of goods sold	(13,947)	(14,642)	(40,053)	(34,360)
Gross profit	(7,797)	(7,540)	(13,879)	(14,721)
Selling, general and administrative expense	(7,830)	(8,215)	(14,888)	(15,258)
Operating (loss)/income	33	675	1,009	537
Equity in earnings and other income	(13,034)	14,399	(20,677)	14,457
(Loss)/income before provision for income taxes	13,067	(13,724)	21,686	(13,920)
Net loss	13,067	(13,724)	21,686	(13,920)
Net loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	13,067	(13,724)	21,686	(13,920)
Other comprehensive loss	16,723	1,271	8,613	21,031
Comprehensive loss attributable to Quiksilver, Inc.	$ 29,790	$ (12,453)	$ 30,299	$ 7,111