Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets.

No definition available.

RETIREMENT PLANS AND POST RETIREMENT PENSION PLANS, Fair Value of Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 88	$ 91	$ 284
Defined Benefit plan, change in fair value of plan assets, significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	6	8
Realized gains/(losses)	0	1
Unrealized gains/(losses)	(1)	0
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements	(2)	(1)
Balance, end of year	5	6
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	88	91
Benefit Obligation	103	112	309
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	3	3
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	59	62
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	21	20
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	5	6
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	23	23
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	2	2
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	15	15
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	6	6
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	60	62
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	1	1
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	44	47
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	15	14
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Defined Benefit plan, change in fair value of plan assets, significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (Roll Forward]
Transfers in (out)	0	0
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	5	6
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	5	6
United States Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	341	347	837
Defined Benefit plan, change in fair value of plan assets, significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	9	14
Realized gains/(losses)	0	1
Unrealized gains/(losses)	(3)	(2)
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements	(3)	(2)
Balance, end of year	9	9
Projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	0	0
Total projected benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	434	415
Total accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	434	389
Fair value of plan assets in excess of benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	0	0
Total projected benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	341	347
Fair value of plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	0
Total accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	341	347
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	341	347
Benefit Obligation	434	415	889
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	4	3
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	248	258
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	80	76
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	9	10
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	87	84
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	1	1
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	62	61
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	24	22
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	245	254
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	3	2
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	186	197
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	56	54
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	1
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Defined Benefit plan, change in fair value of plan assets, significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (Roll Forward]
Transfers in (out)	0	0
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	9	9
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
United States Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	9	9
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	774	778	2,108
Defined Benefit plan, change in fair value of plan assets, significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year		4
Realized gains/(losses)		(1)
Unrealized gains/(losses)		0
Purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements		(5)
Balance, end of year		0
Projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Total projected benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	1,002	900
Total accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	963	859
Total projected benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	774	778
Total accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	774	778
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	774	778
Benefit Obligation	1,002	900	$ 2,344
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	26	3
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	422	396
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	325	379
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	1	0
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	183	186
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	18	1
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	156	172
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	9	13
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	591	592
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	8	2
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	266	224
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	316	366
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	1	0
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Defined Benefit plan, change in fair value of plan assets, significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (Roll Forward]
Transfers in (out)		0
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Other Plan Assets [Member]
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits	0	0
Agilent CrossLab [Member] \| United States Postretirement Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	187
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	206
Agilent CrossLab [Member] \| United States Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	490
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	514
Agilent CrossLab [Member] \| Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	1,327
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	1,429
Continuing Operations [Member] \| United States Defined Benefit Plans
Projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets - aggregate benefit obligation	434	415
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of fair value of plan assets - aggregate benefit obligation	434	389
Fair value of plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	0	0
Projected benefit obligation in excess of fair value of plan assets - aggregate fair value of plan assets	341	347
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	341	347
Fair value of plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets		0
Continuing Operations [Member] \| Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans
Projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets - aggregate benefit obligation	970	771
Fair value of plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	32	129
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of fair value of plan assets - aggregate benefit obligation	737	732
Fair value of plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate benefit obligation	226	127
Projected benefit obligation in excess of fair value of plan assets - aggregate fair value of plan assets	741	623
Fair value of plan assets in excess of benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	33	155
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	542	623
Fair value of plan assets in excess of accumulated benefit obligation - aggregate fair value of plan assets	232	155
Discontinued Operations [Member] \| United States Postretirement Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	(187)
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	0	206
Discontinued Operations [Member] \| United States Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	490
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	0	514
Discontinued Operations [Member] \| Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	1,327
Fair value of plan assets [Abstract]
Benefit Obligation	$ 0	$ 1,429