Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 03, 2014	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	Oct. 31, 2013
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on assets held for sale	$ 49,500,000	$ 49,500,000								$ 49,472,000	$ 0	$ 0
Environmental Exit Costs, Assets Previously Disposed, Liability for Remediation		1,500,000				1,400,000				1,500,000	1,400,000
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax		(55,104,000)	(929,000)	(3,691,000)	(3,865,000)	(980,000)	(3,181,000)	(661,000)	(1,438,000)	(63,589,000)	(6,260,000)	(619,000)
Previously Sold Business
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Environmental Exit Costs, Assets Previously Disposed, Liability for Remediation		800,000								800,000			2,000,000
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax										$ (500,000)			$ (1,300,000)