Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2011	Dec. 16, 2011	May 01, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	NCI BUILDING SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000883902
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Oct. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 246,673,518
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		20,556,301