Environmental Remediation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jul. 26, 2013	Jul. 27, 2012	Jul. 26, 2013	Jul. 27, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Liability related to environmental remediation at a previously sold business	$ 1,500,000		$ 1,500,000
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	$ (975,000)	$ 0	$ (975,000)	$ 0

Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 19

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683

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