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Restructuring Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2014
Employees
Oct. 31, 2013
Employees
Oct. 31, 2012
Employees
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Restructuring charges $ 5.6us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 2.2us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 16.1us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 4.8us-gaap_RestructuringCharges $ 23.1us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Number of employees severed     850gef_NumberOfEmployeesSevered 278gef_NumberOfEmployeesSevered 513gef_NumberOfEmployeesSevered
Anticipated cost savings related to restructuring     16.8us-gaap_EffectOnFutureEarningsAmount    
Amounts remaining to be incurred 9.2us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 6.6us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 9.2us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1 6.6us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1  
Minimum [Member]          
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Anticipated cost savings related to restructuring payback period     1 year    
Maximum [Member]          
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Anticipated cost savings related to restructuring payback period     5 years    
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]          
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Restructuring charges     9.6us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
   
Number of plants closed 8gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
0gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
8gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
0gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
4gef_NumberOfPlantsClosed
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Amounts remaining to be incurred 6.8us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
  6.8us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
   
Employee Separation Costs [Member]          
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Restructuring charges     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
Employee Separation Costs [Member] | Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]          
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Restructuring charges     7.5us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
   
Amounts remaining to be incurred 3.9us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
  3.9us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
   
Other Restructuring Costs [Member]          
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Restructuring charges     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
Other Restructuring Costs [Member] | Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]          
Restructuring and Related Cost [Abstract]          
Restructuring charges     2.1us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
   
Amounts remaining to be incurred $ 2.9us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
  $ 2.9us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedCostRemaining1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= gef_OtherRestructuringCostsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember