SEGMENT INFORMATION Segment Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	$ 139	$ 98	$ 205
Total reportable segments' assets	4,729	4,574
Cash and cash equivalents	2,289	2,003
Short-term restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	242
Prepaid expenses	92	105
Investments	135	86
Long term and other receivables	92	104
Other	465	365
Total assets	7,802	7,479
Life Sciences and Applied Markets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	53	28
Total reportable segments' assets	1,687	1,539
Diagnostics and Genomics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	41	33
Total reportable segments' assets	1,960	2,027
Agilent CrossLab
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	45	37
Total reportable segments' assets	1,082	1,008
Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures	139	98
Total reportable segments' assets	$ 4,729	$ 4,574