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.

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
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-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
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-Section S99
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-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_DomesticLineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=gef_UnitedStatesTradeAccountsReceivableCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-Term Debt - United States Trade Accounts Receivable Credit Facility (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2019	Sep. 24, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less deferred financing costs	$ 13,600,000		$ 4,700,000
Long-term debt	2,756,300,000		907,600,000
Domestic Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	351,600,000		$ 150,000,000.0
United States Trade Accounts Receivable Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing capacity		$ 275,000,000.0
United States Trade Accounts Receivable Credit Facility \| Domestic Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility borrowing capacity		150,000,000.0
Less deferred financing costs		$ 400,000
Long-term debt	$ 255,100,000