Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 47,893	$ 41,823	$ 79,177	$ 109,753
Trade accounts receivable, net	375,336	433,743
Other receivables	31,933	32,818
Inventories	366,304	344,746
Deferred income taxes	25,696	26,368
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	33,457	26,371
Total current assets	880,619	905,869
Fixed assets, net	232,955	238,313
Intangible assets, net	138,749	139,449
Goodwill	272,764	273,167
Other assets	43,759	47,789
Deferred income taxes long-term	114,391	113,653
Total assets	1,683,237	1,718,240
Current liabilities:
Lines of credit		18,147
Accounts payable	185,570	203,572
Accrued liabilities	102,480	114,891
Long-term debt, current portion	44,834	18,647
Income taxes payable	451	1,359
Total current liabilities	333,335	356,616
Long-term debt, net of current portion	769,108	721,175
Other long-term liabilities	34,958	38,213
Total liabilities	1,137,401	1,116,004
Stockholders'/invested equity	526,184	583,310
Non-controlling interest	19,652	18,926
Total liabilities and equity	1,683,237	1,718,240
Quiksilver, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	108	324	23	17
Other receivables	19	20
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,594	2,277
Total current assets	4,721	2,621
Fixed assets, net	19,454	18,802
Intangible assets, net	3,752	3,228
Other assets	1,902	2,753
Investment in subsidiaries	1,066,560	1,087,924
Total assets	1,096,389	1,115,328
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	2,756	6,995
Accrued liabilities	6,049	6,189
Intercompany balances	161,400	118,834
Total current liabilities	170,205	132,018
Long-term debt, net of current portion	400,000	400,000
Total liabilities	570,205	532,018
Stockholders'/invested equity	526,184	583,310
Total liabilities and equity	1,096,389	1,115,328
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	694	135	1,933	1,331
Trade accounts receivable, net	127,762	181,945
Other receivables	8,526	6,158
Income taxes receivable		117
Inventories	131,136	107,722
Deferred income taxes	5,209	5,209
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,910	9,548
Intercompany balances	108,623	95,809
Total current assets	391,860	406,643
Fixed assets, net	57,774	64,496
Intangible assets, net	47,171	47,746
Goodwill	112,216	112,216
Other assets	1,982	2,677
Investment in subsidiaries	6,986	5,028
Total assets	617,989	638,806
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	85,025	95,355
Accrued liabilities	22,658	28,343
Long-term debt, current portion	6,094	8,594
Income taxes payable	5,368
Total current liabilities	119,145	132,292
Long-term debt, net of current portion	76,000	60,700
Deferred income taxes long-term	23,550	23,550
Other long-term liabilities	23,987	25,241
Total liabilities	242,682	241,783
Stockholders'/invested equity	375,307	397,023
Total liabilities and equity	617,989	638,806
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	47,091	41,364	77,221	108,405
Trade accounts receivable, net	247,574	251,798
Other receivables	23,388	26,640
Income taxes receivable	4,917
Inventories	234,160	237,465
Deferred income taxes	20,487	21,159
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,953	14,546
Intercompany balances	52,777	23,025
Total current assets	649,347	615,997
Fixed assets, net	155,727	155,015
Intangible assets, net	87,826	88,475
Goodwill	160,548	160,951
Other assets	39,875	42,359
Deferred income taxes long-term	137,941	137,203
Total assets	1,231,264	1,200,000
Current liabilities:
Lines of credit		18,147
Accounts payable	97,789	101,222
Accrued liabilities	73,773	80,359
Long-term debt, current portion	38,740	10,053
Income taxes payable		1,476
Total current liabilities	210,302	211,257
Long-term debt, net of current portion	293,108	260,475
Other long-term liabilities	10,971	12,972
Total liabilities	514,381	484,704
Stockholders'/invested equity	697,231	696,370
Non-controlling interest	19,652	18,926
Total liabilities and equity	1,231,264	1,200,000
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	(4,917)	(117)
Inventories	1,008	(441)
Intercompany balances	(161,400)	(118,834)
Total current assets	(165,309)	(119,392)
Deferred income taxes long-term	(23,550)	(23,550)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,073,546)	(1,092,952)
Total assets	(1,262,405)	(1,235,894)
Current liabilities:
Income taxes payable	(4,917)	(117)
Intercompany balances	(161,400)	(118,834)
Total current liabilities	(166,317)	(118,951)
Deferred income taxes long-term	(23,550)	(23,550)
Total liabilities	(189,867)	(142,501)
Stockholders'/invested equity	(1,072,538)	(1,093,393)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,262,405)	$ (1,235,894)