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Restructuring Charges - Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Restructuring Reserve Balances (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]          
Beginning balance     $ 3.0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve $ 8.0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve  
Costs incurred and charged to expense 5.6us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 2.2us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 16.1us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 4.8us-gaap_RestructuringCharges 23.1us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Costs paid or otherwise settled     (15.0)gef_RestructuringReserveSettledWithCashOrOtherwiseSettled (9.8)gef_RestructuringReserveSettledWithCashOrOtherwiseSettled  
Ending balance 4.1us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 3.0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 4.1us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 3.0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve 8.0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Employee Separation Costs [Member]          
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]          
Beginning balance     1.8us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
6.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
 
Costs incurred and charged to expense     12.0us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
2.8us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
13.4us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Costs paid or otherwise settled     (10.9)gef_RestructuringReserveSettledWithCashOrOtherwiseSettled
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
(7.2)gef_RestructuringReserveSettledWithCashOrOtherwiseSettled
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
 
Ending balance 2.9us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
1.8us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
2.9us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
1.8us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
6.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Other Restructuring Costs [Member]          
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]          
Beginning balance     1.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
1.8us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
 
Costs incurred and charged to expense     4.1us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
2.0us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
9.7us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
Costs paid or otherwise settled     (4.1)gef_RestructuringReserveSettledWithCashOrOtherwiseSettled
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
(2.6)gef_RestructuringReserveSettledWithCashOrOtherwiseSettled
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
 
Ending balance $ 1.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
$ 1.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
$ 1.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
$ 1.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
$ 1.8us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember