Post Retirement Benefit Plans - Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$ 703.8	$ 722.4
Service cost	15.7us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost	16.7us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost	13.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
Interest cost	29.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost	27.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost	29.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
Plan participant contributions	0.3	0.3
Expenses paid from assets	(2.5)gef_DefinedBenefitPlanExpensesPaid	(2.2)gef_DefinedBenefitPlanExpensesPaid
Plan Amendments	(0.5)	0.4
Actuarial (gain) loss	92.8	(23.8)
Foreign currency effect	(14.6)	9.4
Benefits paid	(37.7)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid	(47.0)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
Benefit obligation at end of year	786.9	703.8	722.4
USA [Member]
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	358.7	404.7
Service cost	10.4	11.5	10.0
Interest cost	16.6	15.9	16.6
Expenses paid from assets	(1.2)	(1.9)
Plan Amendments	0.4	0.4
Actuarial (gain) loss	51.4	(40.6)
Benefits paid	(16.7)	(31.3)
Benefit obligation at end of year	419.6	358.7	404.7
UNITED KINGDOM \| Non-United States [Member]
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	39.0	35.3
Service cost	0.6	0.6	0.4
Interest cost	1.3	1.2	1.4
Actuarial (gain) loss	5.7	0.9
Foreign currency effect	(3.3)	2.4
Benefits paid	(1.4)	(1.4)
Benefit obligation at end of year	41.9	39.0	35.3
Germany [Member] \| Non-United States [Member]
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	174.9	161.9
Service cost	2.5	2.9	2.1
Interest cost	7.5	6.5	7.0
Expenses paid from assets	(1.1)
Actuarial (gain) loss	15.9	9.7
Foreign currency effect	(0.4)	0.8
Benefits paid	(12.4)	(6.9)
Benefit obligation at end of year	186.9	174.9	161.9
Netherlands [Member] \| Non-United States [Member]
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	116.9	103.4
Service cost	1.6	1.2	0.5
Interest cost	3.6	3.3	3.9
Plan participant contributions	0.3	0.3
Plan Amendments	(0.9)
Actuarial (gain) loss	18.1	7.7
Foreign currency effect	(9.9)	7.0
Benefits paid	(6.1)	(6.0)
Benefit obligation at end of year	123.6	116.9	103.4
Other International [Member] \| Non-United States [Member]
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	14.3	17.1
Service cost	0.6	0.5	0.4
Interest cost	0.6	0.7	0.7
Expenses paid from assets	(0.2)	(0.3)
Actuarial (gain) loss	1.7	(1.5)
Foreign currency effect	(1.0)	(0.8)
Benefits paid	(1.1)	(1.4)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$ 14.9	$ 14.3	$ 17.1

Defined benefit plan expenses paid.

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) related to change in benefit obligation resulting from changes in actuarial assumptions, for example, but not limited to, interest, mortality, employee turnover, salary, and temporary deviation from the substantive plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Gain or Loss

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- Definition

1) For defined benefit pension plans, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value as of a date of all benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered prior to that date. 2) For other postretirement defined benefit plans, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value of benefits attributed to employee service rendered to a particular date.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

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-Glossary Projected Benefit Obligation

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503904

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- Definition

The amount of payments made for which participants are entitled under a pension plan, including pension benefits, death benefits, and benefits due on termination of employment. Also includes payments made under a postretirement benefit plan, including prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services. This item represents a periodic decrease to the plan obligations and a decrease to plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Postretirement Benefits

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6521376

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- Definition

The amount of contributions made by plan participants. This item represents a periodic increase to the plan obligation and an increase to plan assets.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from foreign currency exchange rate changes for benefit obligation for plans of a foreign operation whose functional currency is not the reporting currency.

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- Definition

The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

+ References

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- Definition

The amount of increase or decrease due to a change in the terms of an existing plan or the initiation of a new plan. A plan amendment may increase or decrease benefits, including those attributed to years of service already rendered.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 60

-Glossary Plan Amendment

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- Definition

The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

+ References

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-Glossary Service Cost (Component of Net Periodic Pension Cost)

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