This item represents the excess of cost over fair value of securities that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer for those securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

Name:	hpq_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLoss
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the fair value of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ Details

Name:	hpq_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the gross unrealized gains for securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Such gross unrealized gains are the excess of the fair value of the Available-for-sale Securities over their carrying value as of the reporting date.

+ Details

Name:	hpq_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGain
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the gross unrealized losses for securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Such gross unrealized losses are the excess of the carrying value of the Available-for-sale Securities over their fair value as of the reporting date.

+ Details

Name:	hpq_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesUnrealizedLossGross
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	hpq_CashEquivalentsAndAvailableForSaleInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the cost of cash equivalents and debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any.

+ Details

Name:	hpq_CashEquivalentsAndAvailableForSaleSecuritiesCost
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the fair value of cash equivalents and debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ Details

Name:	hpq_CashEquivalentsAndAvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the fair value of cash equivalents.

+ Details

Name:	hpq_CashEquivalentsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	hpq
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments made for accretion, amortization, other-than-temporary impairments, and hedging, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 7
-Footnote 2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 19

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash equivalents may be reported as cash equivalents, while legally restricted equivalents held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular equivalents should not be reported as part of unrestricted cash equivalents.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 8, 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the investment. The amount is charged to income if the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Apr. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Total			$ 9,475	$ 7,978
Gross Unrealized Gain			62	62
Gross Unrealized Loss			(22)	(30)
Estimated Fair Value, Total			9,515	8,010
Total cash equivalents
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Cash Equivalents			9,052	7,561
Estimated Fair Value, Cash Equivalents			9,052	7,561
Time deposits
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Cash Equivalents			7,920	6,590
Estimated Fair Value, Cash Equivalents			7,920	6,590
Commercial paper
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Cash Equivalents			325
Estimated Fair Value, Cash Equivalents			325
Money market funds
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Cash Equivalents			807	971
Estimated Fair Value, Cash Equivalents			807	971
Total debt securities
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments			420	412
Gross Unrealized Gain			60	58
Gross Unrealized Loss			(22)	(30)
Estimated Fair Value, Investments			458	440
Gross unrealized loss of debt securities in a continuous loss position for more than 12 months			22	28
Impairment charge recognized during the period	2	2
Time deposits, debt securities
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments			8	8
Estimated Fair Value, Investments			8	8
Foreign bonds
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments			336	315
Gross Unrealized Gain			60	58
Estimated Fair Value, Investments			396	373
Corporate bonds and other debt securities
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments			76	89
Gross Unrealized Loss			(22)	(30)
Estimated Fair Value, Investments			54	59
Equity securities in public companies
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments
Cost, Investments			3	5
Gross Unrealized Gain			2	4
Estimated Fair Value, Investments			$ 5	$ 9