Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Nov. 01, 2010
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 57,280				$ 41,823				$ 109,753	$ 120,593
Trade accounts receivable, net	411,638	410,593	372,056	331,193	410,774	391,213	368,719	315,203
Other receivables	23,306				31,014
Inventories	337,715	379,684	345,766	403,883	326,877	377,679	341,737	400,910
Deferred income taxes	9,997				26,407
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,124				25,460
Current portion of assets held for sale	51,196				43,514
Total Current Assets	915,256				905,869
Fixed assets, net	231,261				235,743
Intangible assets, net	134,596				135,156
Goodwill	261,625				257,050				268,589	332,488
Other assets	53,287				47,388
Deferred income taxes long-term					115,166
Assets held for sale, net of current portion	24,445				21,868
TOTAL ASSETS	1,620,470				1,718,240				1,764,223
Current Liabilities:
Lines of credit					18,147
Accounts payable	201,675				194,333
Accrued liabilities	121,545				110,191
Current portion of long-term debt	23,488				18,647
Income taxes payable	3,912				1,359
Current portion of assets held for sale	16,420				13,939
Total Current Liabilities	367,040				356,616
Long-term debt	807,812				721,175
Deferred income taxes long-term	19,896
Other long-term liabilities	36,345				38,063
Assets held for sale, net of current portion	1,719				150
Total liabilities	1,232,812				1,116,004
Stockholders'/invested equity:	369,706				583,310
Non-controlling interest	17,952				18,926
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	1,620,470				1,718,240
Quiksilver, Inc. [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	35				324				17	164
Other receivables	19				20
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,372				2,277
Total Current Assets	3,426				2,621
Fixed assets, net	21,378				18,802
Intangible assets, net	4,487				3,228
Other assets	8,025				2,753
Deferred income taxes long-term	21,085				21,686
Investment in subsidiaries	949,814				1,087,924
TOTAL ASSETS	1,008,215				1,137,014
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,222				6,995
Accrued liabilities	17,900				6,189
Deferred income taxes	20,365				20,902
Intercompany balances	92,815				119,618
Current portion of assets held for sale	689
Total Current Liabilities	135,991				153,704
Long-term debt	500,896				400,000
Other long-term liabilities	1,622
Total liabilities	638,509				553,704
Stockholders'/invested equity:	369,706				583,310
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	1,008,215				1,137,014
QS Wholesale, Inc. [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,733				1,966				4,972	38,707
Trade accounts receivable, net	83,991				80,522
Other receivables	5,613				2,767
Income taxes receivable					117
Inventories	43,405				32,156
Deferred income taxes	24,624				26,617
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,271				4,463
Intercompany balances	173,547				218,896
Total Current Assets	338,184				367,504
Fixed assets, net	35,152				39,175
Intangible assets, net	44,596				45,547
Goodwill	103,880				103,880
Other assets	5,654				2,083
Investment in subsidiaries	8,795				12,180
TOTAL ASSETS	536,261				570,369
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	51,283				39,542
Accrued liabilities	9,921				15,699
Current portion of long-term debt					8,594
Income taxes payable	121
Total Current Liabilities	61,325				63,835
Long-term debt					60,700
Deferred income taxes long-term	41,039				42,951
Other long-term liabilities	6,012				5,413
Total liabilities	108,376				172,899
Stockholders'/invested equity:	427,885				397,470
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	536,261				570,369
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	296				(1,831)				(3,641)	465
Trade accounts receivable, net	48,230				83,018
Other receivables	2,007				1,703
Inventories	93,074				92,139
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,752				4,399
Current portion of assets held for sale	26,051				26,162
Total Current Assets	173,410				205,590
Fixed assets, net	21,816				24,656
Intangible assets, net	1,154				1,257
Goodwill	7,675				8,336
Other assets	1,096				594
Assets held for sale, net of current portion	1,676				1,607
TOTAL ASSETS	206,827				242,040
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	35,910				55,024
Accrued liabilities	6,929				8,098
Deferred income taxes	744				506
Intercompany balances	47,424				68,707
Current portion of assets held for sale	3,773				5,335
Total Current Liabilities	94,780				137,670
Deferred income taxes long-term	2,053				2,285
Other long-term liabilities	8,946				8,909
Assets held for sale, net of current portion	187				139
Total liabilities	105,966				149,003
Stockholders'/invested equity:	100,861				93,037
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	206,827				242,040
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	53,216				41,364				108,405	81,257
Trade accounts receivable, net	279,417				247,234
Other receivables	15,667				26,524
Inventories	224,695				224,278
Deferred income taxes	6,482				21,198
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	13,729				14,321
Current portion of assets held for sale	25,475				18,053
Total Current Assets	618,681				592,972
Fixed assets, net	152,915				153,110
Intangible assets, net	84,359				85,124
Goodwill	150,070				144,834
Other assets	38,512				41,958
Deferred income taxes long-term	2,111				138,716
Assets held for sale, net of current portion	22,769				20,261
TOTAL ASSETS	1,069,417				1,176,975
Current Liabilities:
Lines of credit					18,147
Accounts payable	110,260				92,772
Accrued liabilities	86,795				80,205
Current portion of long-term debt	23,488				10,053
Income taxes payable	3,791				1,476
Intercompany balances	33,308				30,571
Current portion of assets held for sale	11,958				8,604
Total Current Liabilities	269,600				241,828
Long-term debt	306,916				260,475
Other long-term liabilities	19,765				23,741
Assets held for sale, net of current portion	1,532				11
Total liabilities	597,813				526,055
Stockholders'/invested equity:	453,652				631,994
Non-controlling interest	17,952				18,926
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	1,069,417				1,176,975
Eliminations [Member]
Current Assets:
Income taxes receivable					(117)
Inventories	(23,459)				(21,696)
Deferred income taxes	(21,109)				(21,408)
Intercompany balances	(173,547)				(218,896)
Current portion of assets held for sale	(330)				(701)
Total Current Assets	(218,445)				(262,818)
Deferred income taxes long-term	(23,196)				(45,236)
Investment in subsidiaries	(958,609)				(1,100,104)
TOTAL ASSETS	(1,200,250)				(1,408,158)
Current Liabilities:
Income taxes payable					(117)
Deferred income taxes	(21,109)				(21,408)
Intercompany balances	(173,547)				(218,896)
Total Current Liabilities	(194,656)				(240,421)
Deferred income taxes long-term	(23,196)				(45,236)
Total liabilities	(217,852)				(285,657)
Stockholders'/invested equity:	(982,398)				(1,122,501)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ (1,200,250)				$ (1,408,158)