Number Of Impaired Assets Held And Used

No definition available.

Name:	gef_NumberOfImpairedAssetsHeldAndUsed
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from the increase (decrease) in fair value of foreign currency derivatives and nonderivative instruments designated as fair value hedging instruments which were recognized in earnings, net of offsets by the gain (loss) on the hedged item to the extent that the fair value hedge was determined to be effective.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5618551-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a,h)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For the asset that is reclassified back to held and used from held-for-sale, the amount of impairment charge that is recognized on the reclassification date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 35
-Paragraph 44
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29634951&loc=d3e1756-110224

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2459-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentChargeOnReclassifiedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 958
-SubTopic 225
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68048823&loc=d3e92212-112881

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Impairment
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515133

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64862545&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_FlexibleProductsAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_RigidIndustrialPackagingAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleByAssetTypeAxis=gef_AssetsHeldAndUsedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gef_PaperPackagingAndServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis=gef_SalesValueValuationTechniqueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($) asset_group	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Gains (losses) recorded under fair value contracts	$ 300,000	$ (200,000)	$ 1,500,000	$ 300,000
Recognized asset impairment charges	2,000,000	$ 1,700,000	3,900,000	40,800,000
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss	0		0			$ 0
Flexible Products & Services
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Recognized asset impairment charges			800,000
Accumulated goodwill impairment loss	50,300,000		50,300,000			50,300,000
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Recognized asset impairment charges			$ 3,800,000
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services \| Assets Held And Used
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Number of impaired assets held and used (asset group) \| asset_group			1
Recognized amount of additional impairment related to assets and liabilities held and used			$ 3,600,000
Paper Packaging & Services
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Recognized asset impairment charges			1,500,000
Interest Rate Swap \| Cash Flow Hedging
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Debt issued					$ 300,000,000.0
Interest rate					1.194%
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 101,800,000.0		101,800,000.0			$ 78,900,000.0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Recognized asset impairment charges			3,900,000	$ 40,800,000
Sales Value Valuation Technique \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Recognized asset impairment charges			$ 300,000