Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 10, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	SAFM
Entity Registrant Name	SANDERSON FARMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000812128
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,068,220
Entity Public Float			$ 1,172,888,738