Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2014	Jul. 26, 2013	Aug. 01, 2014	Jul. 26, 2013
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 531,124	$ 478,068	$ 1,565,678	$ 1,435,592
Cost of Sales	348,651	299,166	1,027,565	914,969
Gross Profit	182,473	178,902	538,113	520,623
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	95,293	101,822	289,969	298,711
Research, development and engineering	25,134	24,103	78,441	72,837
Restructuring charges	3,405	0	10,279	0
Goodwill impairment	0	3,454	0	3,454
Total Expenses	123,832	129,379	378,689	375,002
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	58,641	49,523	159,424	145,621
Interest Income	(146)	(132)	(403)	(381)
Interest Expense	7,870	9,050	24,939	30,976
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	533	0	533	946
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	50,384	40,605	134,355	114,080
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	11,430	1,151	27,693	13,027
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	38,954	39,454	106,662	101,053
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(46)	(241)	(429)	(1,207)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	38,908	39,213	106,233	99,846
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	(975)	(343)	(975)
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	38,908	38,238	105,890	98,871
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	16,479	45,201	86,162	83,459
Eliminations
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	(1,685)	(949)	(4,203)	(2,756)
Cost of Sales	(1,685)	(949)	(4,203)	(2,756)
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
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0	0
Total Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	0	0	0	0
Interest Income	19,571	19,122	59,377	58,044
Interest Expense	(19,571)	(19,122)	(59,377)	(58,044)
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	(41,379)	(41,347)	(115,084)	(110,697)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	(41,379)	(41,347)	(115,084)	(110,697)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(16,289)	(49,914)	(106,376)	(106,833)
Parent Company
Guarantee 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
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0	0
Total Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	0	0	0	0
Interest Income	(3,837)	(4,028)	(11,588)	(11,680)
Interest Expense	5,777	6,489	18,350	23,722
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	946
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	(1,940)	(2,461)	(6,762)	(12,988)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(466)	(671)	(1,462)	(2,894)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	(1,474)	(1,790)	(5,300)	(10,094)
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	(1,474)	(1,790)	(5,300)	(10,094)
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	(975)	(343)	(975)
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	40,382	41,003	111,533	109,940
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	38,908	38,238	105,890	98,871
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	15,707	45,816	88,374	87,090
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	248,443	216,949	733,826	653,959
Cost of Sales	156,486	132,786	468,901	405,830
Gross Profit	91,957	84,163	264,925	248,129
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	37,686	38,045	120,154	112,881
Research, development and engineering	11,452	12,684	37,005	37,448
Restructuring charges	2,577	0	6,898	0
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0	0
Total Expenses	51,715	50,729	164,057	150,329
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	40,242	33,434	100,868	97,800
Interest Income	(1,948)	(2,028)	(5,886)	(5,723)
Interest Expense	6,832	7,052	20,619	20,019
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	0	0	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	35,358	28,410	86,135	83,504
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	7,446	6,264	18,122	15,178
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	27,912	22,146	68,013	68,326
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	27,912	22,146	68,013	68,326
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	883	294	2,117	677
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	28,795	22,440	70,130	69,003
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	26,224	22,610	68,693	68,102
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantee Obligations [Line Items]
Net Sales	284,366	262,068	836,055	784,389
Cost of Sales	193,850	167,329	562,867	511,895
Gross Profit	90,516	94,739	273,188	272,494
Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	57,607	63,777	169,815	185,830
Research, development and engineering	13,682	11,419	41,436	35,389
Restructuring charges	828	0	3,381	0
Goodwill impairment	0	3,454	0	3,454
Total Expenses	72,117	78,650	214,632	224,673
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations	18,399	16,089	58,556	47,821
Interest Income	(13,932)	(13,198)	(42,306)	(41,022)
Interest Expense	14,832	14,631	45,347	45,279
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	533	0	533	0
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	16,966	14,656	54,982	43,564
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	4,450	(4,442)	11,033	743
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests	12,516	19,098	43,949	42,821
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(46)	(241)	(429)	(1,207)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	12,470	18,857	43,520	41,614
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Equity in Net Earnings of Consolidated Subsidiaries	114	50	1,434	80
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	12,584	18,907	44,954	41,694
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ (9,163)	$ 26,689	$ 35,471	$ 35,100