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Contingent Liabilities and Environmental Reserves - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental liability reserves	$ 9.8us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent	$ 24.7us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent
Blending Facility in Chicago and Illinois [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental liability reserves	0.8us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_BlendingFacilityInChicagoAndIllinoisMember	13.7us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_BlendingFacilityInChicagoAndIllinoisMember
European Drum Facilities [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental liability reserves	5.6us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_EuropeanDrumFacilitiesMember	6.8us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_EuropeanDrumFacilitiesMember
Life Cycle Management and Recycling Facilities [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental liability reserves	2.1us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_LifeCycleManagementAndRecyclingFacilitiesMember	2.6us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_LifeCycleManagementAndRecyclingFacilitiesMember
Other Facilities [Member]
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Environmental liability reserves	1.3us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_OtherFacilitiesMember	1.6us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_OtherFacilitiesMember
Decrease in environmental reserve due to the divestment of subsidiary	$ 12.9us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsAndDivestitures / us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis = gef_OtherFacilitiesMember

X

- Definition

The Increase or Decrease in the accrual for environmental loss contingencies in the period arising from business acquisitions or divestitures.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable after twelve months or beyond the next operating cycle if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 24

-Article 5



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13237-110859

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- Details

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X

- Details

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