Defined benefit plan, accounting corridor, set percentage of greater of plan assets or benefit obligations.

No definition available.

Name:	ndsn_DefinedBenefitPlanAccountingCorridorSetPercentageOfGreaterOfPlanAssetsOrBenefitObligations
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Defined benefit plan retiree eligible age.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ndsn_DefinedBenefitPlanRetireeEligibleAge
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period of time in which a participant becomes fully vested in the defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ndsn_DefinedContributionPlanVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Plan assets as percentage of world wide pension assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ndsn_PlanAssetsAsPercentageOfWorldWidePensionAssets
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of alternative method used to amortize gain (loss) for defined benefit plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (o)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of contribution expected to be received by defined benefit plan from employer in next fiscal year following current fiscal year.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of target investment allocation to total plan assets. Includes, but is not limited to, percentage on weighted-average basis if more than one plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118257860&loc=d3e4179-114921

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsTargetAllocationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit from irrevocable action relieving primary responsibility for benefit obligation and eliminating risk related to obligation and assets used to effect settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (h)(7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109237824&loc=SL108413299-114919

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (a)(7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118255775&loc=d3e2709-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToSettlements1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cost for defined contribution plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanFundingStatusAxis=ndsn_DueToLumpSumRetirementPaymentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Retirement, Pension and Other Postretirement Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined contribution plan vesting period	3 years
Expenses on retirement plan	$ 20,265	$ 22,573	$ 22,634
Retiree eligible age	65 years
Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of target rate in return seeking assets	30.00%
Debt securities
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of target rate in return seeking assets	70.00%
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Method used to amortize net gains and losses, description	Net actuarial gains or losses are amortized to expense on a plan-by-plan basis when they exceed the accounting corridor, which is set at 10 percent of the greater of the plan assets or benefit obligations.
Accounting corridor, set percentage of greater of plan assets or benefit obligations	10.00%
Employer contribution in next fiscal year	$ 43,721
Pension Plans \| United States
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlement loss	$ (2,508)	0	0
Percentage of World wide pension assets	92.00%
Pension Plans \| International
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlement loss	$ 0	(470)	(252)
Percentage of World wide pension assets	8.00%
Retirement Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Method used to amortize net gains and losses, description	Net actuarial gains or losses are amortized to expense on a plan-by-plan basis when they exceed the accounting corridor, which is set at 10 percent of the greater of the plan assets or benefit obligations.
Accounting corridor, set percentage of greater of plan assets or benefit obligations	10.00%
Employer contribution in next fiscal year	$ 2,800
Due to Lump Sum Retirement Payments
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Settlement loss	$ (2,508)	$ (470)	$ (252)