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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill accumulated impairment loss	$ 232,789us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss		$ 232,789us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Intangible assets, amortization expense	6,891us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	6,330us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Advanced Technology Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill accumulated impairment loss	229,173us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = ndsn_AdvancedTechnologySystemsMember		229,173us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = ndsn_AdvancedTechnologySystemsMember
Industrial Coating Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill accumulated impairment loss	$ 3,616us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = ndsn_IndustrialCoatingSystemsMember		$ 3,616us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = ndsn_IndustrialCoatingSystemsMember

X

- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing 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 (a,h)

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

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- Details

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- Details

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