Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Summary of Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at October 31, 2014	$ 1,052,537us-gaap_Goodwill
Adjustment	371
Currency effect	(12,863)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Balance at January 31, 2015	1,040,045us-gaap_Goodwill
Adhesive Dispensing Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at October 31, 2014	397,046
Currency effect	(11,779)
Balance at January 31, 2015	385,267
Advanced Technology Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at October 31, 2014	631,433
Adjustment	371
Currency effect	(1,084)
Balance at January 31, 2015	630,720
Industrial Coating Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance at October 31, 2014	24,058
Currency effect	0
Balance at January 31, 2015	$ 24,058

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 16

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34752592&loc=d3e961-128460

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ndsn_AdhesiveDispensingSystemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ndsn_AdvancedTechnologySystemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ndsn_IndustrialCoatingSystemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: