Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 124.3	$ 194.2	$ 229.5
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	242.5	206.1	126.9
Non-cash asset impairment charges	18.5	7.8	8.3
Non-cash pension settlement charges	0.3	0.0	1.3
Gain on disposals of properties, plants and equipment, net	(19.2)	(13.9)	(5.6)
(Gain) loss on disposal of businesses, net	38.8	3.7	(0.8)
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss	(4.2)	3.0	(0.7)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	16.7	2.1	(44.8)
Transition tax (benefit) expense	0.0	(0.8)	52.8
Debt extinguishment charges	0.0	14.0	0.0
Non-cash lease expense	57.4	0.0	0.0
Other, net	(3.0)	4.2	(2.8)
Increase (decrease) in cash from changes in certain assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(9.1)	55.1	(34.0)
Inventories	27.1	33.9	(24.8)
Deferred purchase price on sold receivables	0.0	(6.9)	2.1
Accounts payable	38.1	(69.9)	24.3
Restructuring reserves	10.2	6.7	(0.8)
Operating leases	(56.8)	0.0	0.0
Pension and post-retirement benefit liabilities	(13.3)	(15.3)	(66.8)
Other, net	(13.6)	(34.5)	(11.1)
Net cash provided by operating activities	454.7	389.5	253.0
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of companies, net of cash acquired	0.0	(1,857.9)	0.0
Purchases of properties, plants and equipment	(131.4)	(156.8)	(140.2)
Purchases of and investments in timber properties	(5.4)	(5.4)	(8.9)
Purchases of equity method investments	(3.6)	0.0	0.0
Proceeds from the sale of properties, plants, equipment and other assets	33.4	28.7	12.5
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	80.9	1.5	1.4
Proceeds on insurance recoveries	0.9	0.6	0.0
Net cash used in investing activities	(25.2)	(1,989.3)	(135.2)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,319.9	3,732.3	1,020.7
Payments on long-term debt	(1,578.4)	(2,075.6)	(1,065.4)
Proceeds (payments) on short-term borrowings, net	17.0	2.2	(11.0)
Proceeds from trade accounts receivable credit facility	76.8	181.4	2.8
Payments on trade accounts receivable credit facility	(122.9)	(89.2)	(2.8)
Dividends paid to Greif, Inc. shareholders	(104.3)	(104.0)	(100.0)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(13.4)	(9.2)	(4.6)
Payments for debt extinguishment and issuance costs	0.0	(44.1)	0.0
Purchases of redeemable noncontrolling interest	0.0	(11.9)	0.0
Cash contribution from noncontrolling interest holder	0.0	1.6	2.0
Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities	(405.3)	1,583.5	(158.3)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	4.4	(0.6)	(7.6)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	28.6	(16.9)	(48.1)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	77.3	94.2	142.3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	105.9	77.3	94.2
Non-cash transactions:
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable	17.2	18.6	11.4
Schedule of interest and income taxes paid:
Cash payments for interest expense	119.9	161.8	58.3
Cash payments for taxes	$ 65.1	$ 71.4	$ 65.2