Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2010
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS -
Net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$ 62,940	$ 65,975	$ 155,265	$ 133,428
Cash dividends paid	24,566	24,507	73,396	68,607
Undistributed net income attributable to Greif, Inc.	$ 38,374	$ 41,468	$ 81,869	$ 64,821
Class A common stock [Member]
Denominator for basic EPS -
Denominator for basic EPS	24,897,665	24,687,006	24,837,097	24,623,262
Denominator for diluted EPS -
Denominator for diluted EPS	25,100,003	24,999,901	25,041,395	24,930,839
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 1.08	$ 1.13	$ 2.66	$ 2.29
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 1.07	$ 1.12	$ 2.65	$ 2.28
Dividends per share
Dividends per share	$ 0.42	$ 0.42	$ 1.26	$ 1.18
Summarization of the Company's Class A and Class B common and treasury shares
Authorized Shares	128,000,000		128,000,000		128,000,000
Issued Shares	42,281,920		42,281,920		42,281,920
Outstanding Shares	24,957,182		24,957,182		24,756,974
Treasury Shares	17,324,738		17,324,738		17,524,946
Class B common stock [Member]
Denominator for basic EPS -
Denominator for basic EPS	22,362,266	22,444,488	22,386,818	22,456,340
Denominator for diluted EPS -
Denominator for diluted EPS	22,362,266	22,444,448	22,386,818	22,456,340
EPS Basic
EPS Basic	$ 1.61	$ 1.70	$ 3.98	$ 3.43
EPS Diluted
EPS Diluted	$ 1.61	$ 1.70	$ 3.98	$ 3.43
Dividends per share
Dividends per share	$ 0.63	$ 0.63	$ 1.88	$ 1.76
Summarization of the Company's Class A and Class B common and treasury shares
Authorized Shares	69,120,000		69,120,000		69,120,000
Issued Shares	34,560,000		34,560,000		34,560,000
Outstanding Shares	22,362,266		22,362,266		22,412,266
Treasury Shares	12,197,734		12,197,734		12,147,734