Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014		Aug. 01, 2014		May 02, 2014		Jan. 31, 2014		Oct. 25, 2013		Jul. 26, 2013		Apr. 26, 2013		Jan. 25, 2013		Oct. 31, 2014		Oct. 25, 2013		Oct. 26, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 548,059		$ 506,309		$ 510,861		$ 485,940		$ 513,667		$ 463,613		$ 475,870		$ 435,627		$ 2,051,169	[1]	$ 1,888,777	[1]	$ 1,877,821	[1]
Gross profit	193,577		177,087		179,225		170,735		199,835		175,600		175,923		153,351		720,624		704,709		677,888
Earnings from continuing operations	51,632		39,837		40,595		33,943		66,843	[2],[3],[4],[5]	41,419	[2],[3],[4],[5]	36,183	[2],[3],[4],[5]	26,549	[2],[3],[4],[5]	166,007		170,994		113,154
Loss from discontinued operations	(55,104)		(929)		(3,691)		(3,865)		(980)		(3,181)		(661)		(1,438)		(63,589)		(6,260)		(619)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline	$ (3,472)		$ 38,908		$ 36,904		$ 30,078		$ 65,863		$ 38,238		$ 35,522		$ 25,111		$ 102,418		$ 164,734		$ 112,535
Continuing operations	$ 1.62		$ 1.25		$ 1.28		$ 1.07		$ 2.13		$ 1.32		$ 1.16		$ 0.86		$ 5.22		$ 5.48		$ 3.68
Discontinued operations	$ (1.73)		$ (0.03)		$ (0.12)		$ (0.12)		$ (0.03)		$ (0.10)		$ (0.02)		$ (0.05)		$ (2.00)		$ (0.20)		$ (0.02)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Basic	$ (0.11)	[6]	$ 1.22	[6]	$ 1.16	[6]	$ 0.95	[6]	$ 2.10	[6]	$ 1.22	[6]	$ 1.14	[6]	$ 0.81	[6]	$ 3.22		$ 5.28		$ 3.66
Continuing operations	$ 1.62		$ 1.22		$ 1.25		$ 1.05		$ 2.09		$ 1.30		$ 1.14		$ 0.85		$ 5.12		$ 5.39		$ 3.62
Discontinued operations	$ (1.73)		$ (0.03)		$ (0.11)		$ (0.12)		$ (0.03)		$ (0.10)		$ (0.02)		$ (0.05)		$ (1.96)		$ (0.20)		$ (0.02)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Diluted	$ (0.11)	[6],[7]	$ 1.19	[6],[7]	$ 1.14	[6],[7]	$ 0.93	[6],[7]	$ 2.06	[6]	$ 1.20	[6]	$ 1.12	[6]	$ 0.80	[6]	$ 3.16		$ 5.19		$ 3.60

[1] Based on country from which the sale originated and the sale was recorded.

[2] Included $8.2 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters in the third quarter.

[3] Included a $3.5 million goodwill impairment charge related to Racal Acoustics in the third quarter.

[4] Included a $10.0 million charge related to our pending matter with the DDTC in the third quarter.

[5] Included $3.7 million of income tax benefits related to the favorable resolution of certain tax matters in the first quarter.

[6] The sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal per shares amounts reported for year-to-date periods. This is due to changes in the number of weighted average shares outstanding and the effects of rounding for each period.

[7] Diluted shares is equal of basic shares in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2014.