Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Total	Capital Stock	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Greif, Inc. Equity	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning balance (shares) at Oct. 31, 2015		47,814	29,028
Beginning balance, value at Oct. 31, 2015	$ 1,059.9	$ 139.1	$ (130.6)	$ 1,384.5	$ (377.4)	$ 1,015.6	$ 44.3
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	75.5			74.9		74.9	0.6
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(17.6)				(13.6)	(13.6)	(4.0)
Derivative financial instruments, net of income tax expense	0.0
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense	(7.4)				(7.4)	(7.4)
Comprehensive income	50.5					53.9
Out of period mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(19.8)			(19.8)		(19.8)
Current period mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	(2.1)			(2.1)		(2.1)
Reclassification of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(21.6)			1.2		1.2	(22.8)
Net (loss) allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(4.8)						(4.8)
Other	(0.4)						(0.4)
Dividends paid	(98.7)			(98.7)		(98.7)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	1.5						1.5
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(3.9)						(3.9)
Treasury shares acquired (shares)		(110)	110
Treasury shares acquired	(5.2)		$ (5.2)			(5.2)
Restricted stock executives and directors (shares)		47	(47)
Restricted stock executives and directors	1.4	$ 1.3	$ 0.1			1.4
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)		41	(41)
Long-term incentive shares issued	1.1	$ 1.0	$ 0.1			1.1
Ending balance (shares) at Oct. 31, 2016		47,792	29,050
Ending balance, value at Oct. 31, 2016	957.9	$ 141.4	$ (135.6)	1,340.0	(398.4)	947.4	10.5
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	135.1			118.6		118.6	16.5
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	37.6				20.9	20.9	16.7
Derivative financial instruments, net of income tax expense	5.1				5.1	5.1
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense	14.2				14.2	14.2
Comprehensive income	192.0					158.8
Current period mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0.5			0.5		0.5
Net (loss) allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(1.4)						(1.4)
Other	(2.6)						(2.6)
Dividends paid	(98.6)			(98.6)		(98.6)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(3.1)						(3.1)
Treasury shares acquired (shares)		(2)	2
Treasury shares acquired	0.1		$ 0.1			0.1
Restricted stock executives and directors (shares)		24	(24)
Restricted stock executives and directors	1.3	$ 1.3	$ 0.0			1.3
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)		29	(29)
Long-term incentive shares issued	1.4	$ 1.5	$ (0.1)			1.4
Ending balance (shares) at Oct. 31, 2017		47,843	28,999
Ending balance, value at Oct. 31, 2017	1,047.5	$ 144.2	$ (135.6)	1,360.5	(358.2)	1,010.9	36.6
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	229.5			209.4		209.4	20.1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(45.5)				(43.5)	(43.5)	(2.0)
Derivative financial instruments, net of income tax expense	7.7			(0.6)	8.3	7.7
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of income tax expense	16.3				16.3	16.3
Comprehensive income	208.0					189.9
Current period mark to redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0.5			0.5		0.5
Net (loss) allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(3.7)						(3.7)
Dividends paid	(100.0)			(100.0)		(100.0)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(4.6)						(4.6)
Restricted stock executives and directors (shares)		21	(21)
Restricted stock executives and directors	1.2	$ 1.2				1.2
Long-term incentive shares issued (shares)		85	(85)
Long-term incentive shares issued	5.3	$ 5.1	$ 0.2			5.3
Ending balance (shares) at Oct. 31, 2018		47,949	28,893
Ending balance, value at Oct. 31, 2018	$ 1,154.2	$ 150.5	$ (135.4)	$ 1,469.8	$ (377.1)	$ 1,107.8	$ 46.4