Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	$ (233,525)	$ (9,743)	$ (17,870)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
Income from discontinued operations	(5,886)	(7,502)	(6,163)
Depreciation and amortization	49,958	52,418	55,072
Stock based compensation	21,556	22,552	14,414
Provision for doubtful accounts	5,729	4,030	8,233
Asset impairments	12,327	7,234	86,373
Equity in earnings	613	282	(355)
Non-cash interest expense	6,795	3,685	19,112
Deferred income taxes	159,097	(8,621)	(28,248)
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income	(1,382)	(6,521)	(5,666)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(1,220)	(50,750)	(29,110)
Inventories	(11,860)	7,183	(68,157)
Other operating assets and liabilities	22,686	(28,819)	26,024
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities of continuing operations	24,888	(14,572)	53,659
Cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	2,304	1,033	490
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	27,192	(13,539)	54,149
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	859	8,198	12,546
Capital expenditures	(52,182)	(63,343)	(89,028)
Payment for purchases of companies			(5,578)
Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(51,323)	(55,145)	(82,060)
Cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	(2,570)	(11,855)	(562)
Net cash used in investing activities	(53,893)	(67,000)	(82,622)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Transactions with non-controlling interest owners	(58)	(11,000)
Borrowings on lines of credit	6,157	15,139	30,070
Payments on lines of credit	(22,561)	(12,641)	(35,303)
Borrowings on long-term debt	652,915	140,035	315,330
Payments on long term debt	(582,456)	(112,841)	(284,676)
Payments of debt and equity issuance costs	(14,277)		(6,391)
Stock option exercises and employee stock purchases	9,944	2,241	4,129
Cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations	49,664	20,933	23,159
Cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by financing activities	49,664	20,933	23,159
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(7,506)	(8,324)	(5,526)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	15,457	(67,930)	(10,840)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	41,823	109,753	120,593
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	57,280	41,823	109,753
Quiksilver, Inc. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	(232,565)	(10,756)	(21,258)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
Income from discontinued operations	689
Depreciation and amortization	2,218	2,088	1,735
Stock based compensation	21,556	22,552	14,414
Equity in earnings	138,111	(74,572)	(50,224)
Non-cash interest expense	4,702	1,490	1,387
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income	316	(443)	72
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other operating assets and liabilities	8,327	5,918	(17,134)
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities of continuing operations	(56,646)	(53,723)	(71,008)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	(56,646)	(53,723)	(71,008)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	55
Capital expenditures	(7,347)	(4,388)	(12,570)
Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(7,292)	(4,388)	(12,570)
Net cash used in investing activities	(7,292)	(4,388)	(12,570)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on long-term debt	500,776
Payments on long term debt	(400,000)
Payments of debt and equity issuance costs	(9,965)
Stock option exercises and employee stock purchases	9,944	2,241	4,129
Intercompany	(37,106)	56,177	79,302
Cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations	63,649	58,418	83,431
Cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by financing activities	63,649	58,418	83,431
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(289)	307	(147)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	324	17	164
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	35	324	17
QS Wholesale, Inc. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	30,412	19,636	27,524
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	11,556	11,314	13,191
Provision for doubtful accounts	(129)	(763)	225
Asset impairments	1,646	11	1,778
Equity in earnings	2,739	4,674	(994)
Non-cash interest expense	1,312	1,506	1,808
Deferred income taxes	(1,750)	474	3,703
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income	27	(94)	351
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(3,339)	(7,227)	(8,811)
Inventories	(11,182)	23,444	(49,448)
Other operating assets and liabilities	3,080	(9,589)	5,146
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities of continuing operations	34,372	43,386	(5,527)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	34,372	43,386	(5,527)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets		43	5
Capital expenditures	(6,606)	(13,744)	(21,726)
Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(6,606)	(13,701)	(21,721)
Net cash used in investing activities	(6,606)	(13,701)	(21,721)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Transactions with non-controlling interest owners	(58)	(11,000)
Borrowings on long-term debt	59,829	93,500	44,500
Payments on long term debt	(129,123)	(70,800)	(25,524)
Payments of debt and equity issuance costs	(4,312)
Intercompany	47,665	(44,391)	(25,463)
Cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations	(25,999)	(32,691)	(6,487)
Cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by financing activities	(25,999)	(32,691)	(6,487)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,767	(3,006)	(33,735)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,966	4,972	38,707
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	3,733	1,966	4,972
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	7,824	31,345	13,477
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
Income from discontinued operations	(5,211)	(5,721)	(6,120)
Depreciation and amortization	6,031	6,483	7,067
Provision for doubtful accounts	(1,823)	(1,307)	740
Asset impairments	5,939	5,151	1,621
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income	(196)	130	130
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	36,610	(19,368)	(10,278)
Inventories	3,830	(41,966)	6,311
Other operating assets and liabilities	(20,748)	16,996	7,739
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities of continuing operations	32,256	(8,257)	20,687
Cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	1,515	(1,521)	1,870
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	33,771	(9,778)	22,557
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	12	2	10
Capital expenditures	(7,965)	(8,527)	(12,336)
Payment for purchases of companies			(528)
Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(7,953)	(8,525)	(12,854)
Cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	(268)	(309)	(562)
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,221)	(8,834)	(13,416)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany	(23,423)	20,422	(13,247)
Cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations	(23,423)	20,422	(13,247)
Cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by financing activities	(23,423)	20,422	(13,247)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,127	1,810	(4,106)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	(1,831)	(3,641)	465
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	296	(1,831)	(3,641)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	(154,314)	49,265	39,479
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
Income from discontinued operations	(1,353)	(2,080)	(375)
Depreciation and amortization	30,153	32,533	33,079
Provision for doubtful accounts	7,681	6,100	7,268
Asset impairments	4,742	2,072	82,974
Equity in earnings	613	282	(197)
Non-cash interest expense	781	689	15,917
Deferred income taxes	160,847	(9,095)	(31,951)
Other adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income	(1,529)	(6,114)	(6,219)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(34,491)	(24,155)	(10,021)
Inventories	(30,251)	(3,331)	(50,720)
Other operating assets and liabilities	32,027	(42,144)	30,273
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities of continuing operations	14,906	4,022	109,507
Cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	789	2,554	(1,380)
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities	15,695	6,576	108,127
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	792	8,153	12,531
Capital expenditures	(30,264)	(36,684)	(42,396)
Payment for purchases of companies			(5,050)
Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(29,472)	(28,531)	(34,915)
Cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations	(2,302)	(11,546)
Net cash used in investing activities	(31,774)	(40,077)	(34,915)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	6,157	15,139	30,070
Payments on lines of credit	(22,561)	(12,641)	(35,303)
Borrowings on long-term debt	92,310	46,535	270,830
Payments on long term debt	(53,333)	(42,041)	(259,152)
Payments of debt and equity issuance costs			(6,391)
Intercompany	12,864	(32,208)	(40,592)
Cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations	35,437	(25,216)	(40,538)
Cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by financing activities	35,437	(25,216)	(40,538)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(7,506)	(8,324)	(5,526)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,852	(67,041)	27,148
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	41,364	108,405	81,257
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	53,216	41,364	108,405
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss)/income	115,118	(99,233)	(77,092)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
Income from discontinued operations	(11)	299	332
Equity in earnings	(140,850)	69,898	51,060
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventories	25,743	29,036	25,700
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations