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Sale of Non-United States Accounts Receivable - Company's Accounts Receivables Programs (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Oct. 31, 2014 | Oct. 31, 2013 | Oct. 31, 2012
European RPA [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | $ 1,006.4 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | $ 1,071.3 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | $ 702.7 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 888.1 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 947.0 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 619.1 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 118.3 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 124.3 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 83.6 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Loss associated with the program | 2.5 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 2.5 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 1.9 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Expenses associated with the program |  |  | 1.9 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution | 164.7 gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 179.0 gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember |
Deferred purchase price asset (liability) related to accounts receivable sold | (23.7)gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 11.5 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember |
RPA and Italian RPA [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution |  |  | 189.4 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ItalianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program |  |  | 167.7 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ItalianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold |  |  | 21.7 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ItalianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Loss associated with the program |  |  | 1.6 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ItalianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 0 gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ItalianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 0 gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ItalianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember |
Singapore RPA [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | 55.9 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 70.5 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 73.8 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 55.9 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 70.5 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 73.8 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember
Expenses associated with the program | 0.1 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 0.2 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 0.2 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution | 5.0 gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 4.4 gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember |
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 0 gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember | 0 gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_SingaporeReceivablePurchaseAgreementMember |
Malaysian Agreement [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | 0.8 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 22.9 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 24.2 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 0.8 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 22.9 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 24.2 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Loss associated with the program |  | 0.2 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 0.1 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Expenses associated with the program |  | 0.1 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 0.1 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution |  | 4.5 gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember |
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 0 gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 0 gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember |
Total RPAs and Agreement [Member] |  |  |
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution | 1,063.1 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 1,164.7 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 990.1 gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program | 944.8 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 1,040.4 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 884.8 gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold | 118.3 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 124.3 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 105.3 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Loss associated with the program | 2.5 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 2.7 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 3.6 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Expenses associated with the program | 0.1 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 0.3 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 2.2 gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution | 169.7 gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | 187.9 gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember |
Deferred purchase price asset (liability) related to accounts receivable sold | $ (23.7)gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember | $ 11.5 gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember |

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- Definition Accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Deferred purchase price asset liability related to accounts receivable sold. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Expenses associated with accounts receivable. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Proceeds from sale and collection of receivables from third party. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Reflects the net positive or negative amount derived from subtracting from net proceeds of sale, the carrying amounts, net of allocated reserves, of accounts receivable transferred to a third party in a transaction that qualifies for sales treatment. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=13989330&loc=d3e107425-111719 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=gef_ItalianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=gef_MalaysianReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |