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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) employee in Thousands, a in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Oct. 31, 2018 USD ($) a employee Country Block affiliate asset_group class shares | Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares | Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of countries in which company operates (country) | Country | 40 |  |
Approximate number of employees (employees) | employee | 13 |  |
Subsidiary, percent of revenue | 2.00% |  |
Subsidiary, percent of assets | 1.00% |  |
Allowance for trade accounts receivable | $ 4,200,000 | $ 8,900,000 |
Investment in short term financial instruments, term | 3 months |  |
Losses on short term investments | $ 0 | 0 | $ 0
Depreciation expense on properties, plants and equipment | 107,500,000 | 106,800,000 | 107,400,000
Capitalized interest costs | $ 4,500,000 | 3,500,000 | $ 2,600,000
Number of product classes (class) | class | 5 |  |
Number of depletion blocks (block) | Block | 8 |  |
Self insurance reserve | $ 3,800,000 | 3,300,000 |
Liabilities for anticipated costs | $ 9,800,000 | $ 11,000,000 |
Number of affiliates in which company has equity interest | affiliate | 2 |  |
Options granted (shares) | shares | 0 | 0 | 0
Translation adjustment functional to reporting currency, losses reclassified to earnings, net of tax | $ 8,800,000 | $ 6,400,000 | $ 6,700,000
Pension settlement charge | $ 1,300,000 | 27,100,000 | 0
Timber Properties |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Newly constructed road, depreciation period | 20 years |  |
United States |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Area of timber properties (acre) | a | 243 |  |
Depletion expense, timber | $ 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | $ 3,200,000
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of asset groups with assets held for sale (asset group) | asset_group | 2 |  |
Flexible Products & Services |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of asset groups with assets held for sale (asset group) | asset_group | 1 |  |
Minimum |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Initial purchase price of a certain percentage of eligible receivables | 75.00% |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Initial purchase price of a certain percentage of eligible receivables | 90.00% |  |
Software | Minimum |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization period | 3 years |  |
Software | Maximum |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization period | 10 years |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 | Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Benefits expense (reversal of expense) | $ 5,900,000 |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2017-12 |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Effect of new accounting principle |  | $ 600,000 |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Prepaid tax assets | 15,700,000 |  |
Retained Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 |  |  |
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |
Effect of new accounting principle | $ 15,700,000 |  |

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