Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 02, 2014	Apr. 26, 2013	May 02, 2014	Apr. 26, 2013
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 529,574	$ 499,562	$ 1,034,554	$ 957,524
Cost of Sales	347,229	318,186	678,914	615,803
Gross Profit	182,345	181,376	355,640	341,721
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	98,470	98,278	194,676	196,889
Research, development and engineering	26,801	25,658	53,307	48,734
Restructuring charges	2,078	0	6,874	0
Total Expenses	127,349	123,936	254,857	245,623
Operating Earnings From Continuing Operations	54,996	57,440	100,783	96,098
Interest Income	(137)	(148)	(257)	(249)
Interest Expense	8,439	11,482	17,069	21,926
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	946	0	946
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	46,694	45,160	83,971	73,475
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	9,150	9,482	16,263	11,876
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	37,544	35,678	67,708	61,599
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(297)	(156)	(383)	(966)
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline	37,247	35,522	67,325	60,633
Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(343)	0	(343)	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	36,904	35,522	66,982	60,633
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	80,121	1,367	69,683	38,258
Parent Company
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of Sales	0	0	0	0
Gross Profit	0	0	0	0
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	0	0	0	0
Research, development and engineering	0	0	0	0
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Total Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating Earnings From Continuing Operations	0	0	0	0
Interest Income	(3,755)	(3,992)	(7,751)	(7,652)
Interest Expense	6,237	9,152	12,573	17,233
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	946	0	946
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	(2,482)	(6,106)	(4,822)	(10,527)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(520)	(1,273)	(996)	(2,223)
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	(1,962)	(4,833)	(3,826)	(8,304)
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline	(1,962)	(4,833)	(3,826)	(8,304)
Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(343)	0	(343)	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	39,209	40,355	71,151	68,937
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	36,904	35,522	66,982	60,633
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	75,488	2,500	72,667	41,276
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	256,254	230,311	485,383	437,010
Cost of Sales	164,735	141,178	312,415	273,044
Gross Profit	91,519	89,133	172,968	163,966
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	42,044	39,105	82,468	74,836
Research, development and engineering	13,297	13,706	25,553	24,764
Restructuring charges	1,248	0	4,321	0
Total Expenses	56,589	52,811	112,342	99,600
Operating Earnings From Continuing Operations	34,930	36,322	60,626	64,366
Interest Income	(1,913)	(1,978)	(3,938)	(3,695)
Interest Expense	6,730	6,646	13,787	12,967
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	30,113	31,654	50,777	55,094
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	6,381	6,468	10,676	8,914
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	23,732	25,186	40,101	46,180
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline	23,732	25,186	40,101	46,180
Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	802	(275)	1,234	383
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	24,534	24,911	41,335	46,563
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	25,065	24,229	42,469	45,492
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	274,396	270,151	551,689	522,321
Cost of Sales	183,570	177,908	369,017	344,566
Gross Profit	90,826	92,243	182,672	177,755
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	56,426	59,173	112,208	122,053
Research, development and engineering	13,504	11,952	27,754	23,970
Restructuring charges	830	0	2,553	0
Total Expenses	70,760	71,125	142,515	146,023
Operating Earnings From Continuing Operations	20,066	21,118	40,157	31,732
Interest Income	(13,697)	(13,136)	(28,374)	(27,824)
Interest Expense	14,700	14,642	30,515	30,648
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	19,063	19,612	38,016	28,908
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	3,289	4,287	6,583	5,185
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	15,774	15,325	31,433	23,723
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(297)	(156)	(383)	(966)
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline	15,477	15,169	31,050	22,757
Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	1,926	30	1,320	30
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	17,403	15,199	32,370	22,787
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	56,268	(17,184)	44,634	8,409
Eliminations
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	(1,076)	(900)	(2,518)	(1,807)
Cost of Sales	(1,076)	(900)	(2,518)	(1,807)
Gross Profit	0	0	0	0
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	0	0	0	0
Research, development and engineering	0	0	0	0
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Total Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating Earnings From Continuing Operations	0	0	0	0
Interest Income	19,228	18,958	39,806	38,922
Interest Expense	(19,228)	(18,958)	(39,806)	(38,922)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline	0	0	0	0
Earnings (Loss) From Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(41,937)	(40,110)	(73,705)	(69,350)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Esterline	(41,937)	(40,110)	(73,705)	(69,350)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ (76,700)	$ (8,178)	$ (90,087)	$ (56,919)