Taxes on Earnings - Schedule of Differences Between U.S. Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate and HP's Effective Tax Rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate from continuing operations	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes from continuing operations, net of federal tax benefit	1.10%	(6.10%)	0.50%
Lower rates in other jurisdictions, net	(9.30%)	(1.20%)	(11.60%)
Research and development (“R&D”) credit	(2.40%)	(0.20%)	(0.20%)
Valuation allowances	(1.20%)	(48.00%)	0.00%
Uncertain tax positions	11.70%	11.10%	(1.60%)
Indemnification Related Items	(4.10%)	0.00%	0.00%
Other, net	(1.70%)	4.10%	2.20%
Effective tax rate (as a percent)	29.10%	(5.30%)	24.30%

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Indemnification Related Items, Percent

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Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 50
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Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to statutory income tax expense (benefit) outside of the country of domicile.

+ References

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to state and local income tax expense (benefit), net of federal tax expense (benefit).

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Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to income tax contingencies. Includes, but not limited to, domestic tax contingency, foreign tax contingency, state and local tax contingency, and other contingencies.

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