Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 405,911	$ 411,861	$ 858,465	$ 818,277
Expenses:
Compensation and related costs	149,072	153,542	321,054	307,430
Distribution expense	33,533	35,930	73,536	73,438
Service fee expense	26,648	25,921	56,403	51,438
Amortization of deferred sales commissions	6,289	5,571	12,257	11,118
Fund-related expenses	10,897	9,960	21,964	19,605
Other expenses	57,516	53,764	116,576	106,945
Total expenses	283,955	284,688	601,790	569,974
Operating income	121,956	127,173	256,675	248,303
Non-operating income (expense):
Gains (losses) and other investment income, net	(50,512)	15,206	(34,422)	21,039
Interest expense	(6,364)	(5,888)	(12,252)	(12,019)
Other income (expense) of consolidated CLO entities:
Gains (losses) and other investment income, net	(4,841)	21,794	10,722	27,235
Interest and other expense	(11,647)	(10,821)	(29,043)	(19,157)
Total non-operating income (expense)	(73,364)	20,291	(64,995)	17,098
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of affiliates	48,592	147,464	191,680	265,401
Income taxes	(22,017)	(37,069)	(54,595)	(64,694)
Equity in net income of affiliates, net of tax	1,481	2,735	3,806	4,683
Net income	28,056	113,130	140,891	205,390
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling and other beneficial interests	44,002	(11,323)	35,152	(16,782)
Net income attributable to Eaton Vance Corp. shareholders	$ 72,058	$ 101,807	$ 176,043	$ 188,608
Earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.66	$ 0.92	$ 1.61	$ 1.69
Diluted	$ 0.65	$ 0.89	$ 1.55	$ 1.64
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	109,224	110,379	109,297	111,315
Diluted	111,610	114,249	113,292	114,795
Management fees [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 354,121	$ 359,384	$ 748,922	$ 710,134
Distribution and underwriter fees [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	19,122	20,054	40,700	43,144
Service fees [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	30,557	29,586	64,496	58,946
Other revenue [Member]
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 2,111	$ 2,837	$ 4,347	$ 6,053