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Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2014 Derivative | Oct. 31, 2013 Derivative | Oct. 31, 2014 Derivative | Oct. 31, 2013 Derivative | Oct. 31, 2012
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Approximate reclassification of net loss from accumulated other comprehensive income |  |  | $ 0.1 us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortion |  |
Interest rate swap agreements maturity year |  |  | 2014 |  |
Weighted average of variable interest rate | 0.16%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageVariableInterestRate | 0.17%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageVariableInterestRate | 0.16%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageVariableInterestRate | 0.17%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageVariableInterestRate |
Weighted average of fixed interest rate | 0.75%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate | 0.75%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate | 0.75%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate | 0.75%us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate |
Realized losses on interest rate derivatives related to statement of operations |  |  | 0.9 gef_GainLossOnFairValueInterestRateDerivatives | 0.8 gef_GainLossOnFairValueInterestRateDerivatives | 0.9 gef_GainLossOnFairValueInterestRateDerivatives
Other comprehensive losses on interest rate derivatives |  |  | 0.2 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss | 0.9 us-gaap_UnrealizedGainLossOnInterestRateCashFlowHedgesPretaxAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss |
Gains (losses) recorded under fair value contracts |  |  | 6.2 us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives |  | 1.6 us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives
Energy hedges | 0 us-gaap_NumberOfPriceRiskDerivativesHeld | 0 us-gaap_NumberOfPriceRiskDerivativesHeld | 0 us-gaap_NumberOfPriceRiskDerivativesHeld | 0 us-gaap_NumberOfPriceRiskDerivativesHeld |
Long lived Assets, Carrying value | 58.0 us-gaap_AssetsNoncurrent | 84.2 us-gaap_AssetsNoncurrent | 58.0 us-gaap_AssetsNoncurrent | 84.2 us-gaap_AssetsNoncurrent | 27.4 us-gaap_AssetsNoncurrent
Long lived Assets, Fair value | 22.5 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure | 52.8 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure | 22.5 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure | 52.8 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure | 14.2 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Long lived assets, impairment charges |  |  | 35.5 us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges | 31.4 us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges | 13.2 us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges
Recognized amount of impairment related to assets under contract to be sold |  |  | 35.5 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | 31.4 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | 13.2 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
Asset impairment charges | 70.2 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | 26.9 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | 85.8 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | 31.4 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges | 13.2 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Impairment of goodwill |  |  | 50.3 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Flexible Products & Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Recognized amount of impairment related to assets under contract to be sold |  |  | 24.0 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember | 11.0 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember |
Asset impairment charges |  |  | 15.7 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember |  |
Impairment of goodwill |  |  | 50.3 us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember |  |
Flexible Products & Services [Member] | Restructuring Charges [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Recognized amount of impairment related to assets under contract to be sold |  |  |  |  | 7.2 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = us-gaap_RestructuringChargesMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Recognized amount of impairment related to assets under contract to be sold |  |  | 11.5 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember | 18.8 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember |
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member] | Restructuring Charges And Underutilized Equipment [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Recognized amount of impairment related to assets under contract to be sold |  |  |  |  | 3.5 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis = gef_RestructuringChargesAndUnderutilizedEquipmentMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Paper Packaging [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Recognized amount of impairment related to assets under contract to be sold |  |  |  | 1.6 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_PaperPackagingMember | 2.5 us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = gef_PaperPackagingMember
Interest Rate Derivatives [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Notional amount | 150.0 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |  | 150.0 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |  |
Derivative number of instruments held | 2 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |  | 2 us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember |  |
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Notional amount | $ 122.4 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember | $ 137.6 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember | $ 122.4 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember | $ 137.6 invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember |

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- Definition Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition The effective portion of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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- Definition Amount of gain (loss) from the increase (decrease) in fair value of foreign currency derivatives and nonderivative instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments which were recognized in earnings, net of offsets by the gain (loss) on the hedged item to the extent that the fair value hedge was determined to be effective. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5618551-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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