Discontinued Operations - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 20, 2015	Jun. 05, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Aug. 01, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Aug. 01, 2014
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on assets held for sale				$ 49,500		$ 16,963	$ 0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations			$ (1,693)		$ (929)	(20,254)	(8,485)
Environmental Exit Costs, Assets Previously Disposed, Liability for Remediation			1,500	$ 1,500		1,500
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax			(1,693)		(929)	(20,254)	(8,485)
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			2,000			2,000
Loss from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax						(1,300)
Eclipse
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of discontinued operation		$ 10,000
PA&E
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of discontinued operation	$ 22,000
Avionics & Controls
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on assets held for sale						11,900
Income (loss) from discontinued operations			(2,155)		(1,327)	(13,268)	(4,430)
Advanced Materials
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on assets held for sale						5,100
Income (loss) from discontinued operations			$ (721)		$ (204)	$ (8,312)	$ (4,029)