Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 135.1	$ 75.5	$ 67.2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	37.6	(17.6)	(130.9)
Interest rate derivative, net of tax expense of $3.1 million, tax benefit of $0.0 million and tax benefit of $0.1 million, respectively	5.1	0.0	0.1
Minimum pension liabilities net of tax expense of $16.5 million, tax benefit of $4.7 million and tax expense of $0.5 million, respectively	14.2	(7.4)	9.0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	56.9	(25.0)	(121.8)
Comprehensive income (loss)	192.0	50.5	(54.6)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	33.2	(3.4)	(23.5)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Greif, Inc.	$ 158.8	$ 53.9	$ (31.1)