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Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2012
Oct. 31, 2011
Oct. 31, 2010
Class of Stock [Line Items]        
Number of shares authorized to be purchased 4,000,000 4,000,000    
Repurchase of common stock 3,184,272      
Total cost of the shares repurchased   $ 0 $ 15.0 $ 2.7
Class A Common Stock [Member]
        
Class of Stock [Line Items]        
Calculation of EPS   (i) multiply 40% times the average Class A shares outstanding, then divide that amount by the product of 40% of the average Class A shares outstanding plus 60% of the average Class B shares outstanding to get a percentage, (ii) divide undistributed net income attributable to Greif, Inc. by the average Class A shares outstanding, then (iii) multiply item (i) by item (ii), and finally (iv) add item (iii) to the Class A cash dividend per share. Diluted shares are factored into the Class A calculation.    
Repurchase of common stock 1,425,452 0    
Dividends per share   $ 1.68 $ 1.68  
Class B Common Stock [Member]
        
Class of Stock [Line Items]        
Calculation of EPS   (i) multiply 60 percent times the average Class B shares outstanding, then divide that amount by the product of 40 percent of the average Class A shares outstanding plus 60 percent of the average Class B shares outstanding to get a percentage, (ii) undistributed net income divided by the average Class B shares outstanding, (iii) multiply item (i) by item (ii), (iv) add item (iii) to the Class B cash dividend. Class B diluted EPS is identical to Class B basic EPS.    
Repurchase of common stock 1,758,820 1,000    
Dividends per share   $ 2.51 $ 2.51