XML 72 R60.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Financial Instruments And Fair Value Measurements - Estimated Fair Values for the Company's Senior Notes and Assets Held by Special Purpose Entities (Detail) - Estimate of Fair Value Measurement - USD ($) $ in Millions | Jan. 31, 2017 | Oct. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Senior Notes due 2017 |  |
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Estimated fair value | $ 300.2 | $ 302.4
Senior Notes due 2019 |  |
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Estimated fair value | 277.6 | 280.1
Senior Notes due 2021 |  |
Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] |  |
Estimated fair value | $ 261.5 | $ 264.9

X
- Definition Estimated Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gef_EstimatedFairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | gef_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13476-108611 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=gef_SeniorNotesOneMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=gef_SeniorNoteTwoMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=gef_SeniorNoteThreeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |