Earnings Per Share (Summary Schedule of the Calculation of Earnings Per Basic and Diluted Shares) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Eaton Vance Corp. shareholders	$ 72,058	$ 101,807	$ 176,043	$ 188,608
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic	109,224	110,379	109,297	111,315
Incremental common shares	2,386	3,870	3,995	3,480
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted	111,610	114,249	113,292	114,795
Earnings per share (Basic) ($ per share)	$ 0.66	$ 0.92	$ 1.61	$ 1.69
Earnings per share (Diluted) ($ per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.89	$ 1.55	$ 1.64