XML 103 R85.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6

Post Retirement Benefit Plans - Actuarial Assumptions Used for the Measurement of Benefit Obligations and Pension Costs (Detail) (Postretirement Health Care and Life Insurance Benefits [Member])	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Actuarial assumptions used to measure the year-end benefit obligations and the pension costs	4.77%	5.56%
USA [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Actuarial assumptions used to measure the year-end benefit obligations and the pension costs	4.00%	4.90%
South Africa [Member]
Pension Plans, Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits [Line Items]
Actuarial assumptions used to measure the year-end benefit obligations and the pension costs	7.75%	8.25%

X

- Definition

Defined benefit plan assumptions used calculating benefit obligation and net periodic pension costs discount rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gef_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationAndNetPeriodicPensionCostsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	gef_PensionPlansPostretirementAndOtherEmployeeBenefitsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration