Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total HP Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Non-controlling Interests	Comprehensive Income
Balance at Oct. 31, 2008	$ 39,179	$ 38,942	$ 24	$ 14,012	$ 24,971	$ (65)	$ 237
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2008			2,415,303
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net earnings	7,738	7,660			7,660		78	7,738
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	16	16				16		16
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(971)	(971)				(971)		(971)
Net unrealized components of defined benefit pension plans	(2,531)	(2,531)				(2,531)		(2,531)
Net cumulative translation adjustment	304	304				304		304
Comprehensive income	4,556	4,478					78	4,556
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other	1,784	1,784	1	1,783
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other (in shares)			69,157
Repurchases of common stock	(4,712)	(4,712)	(1)	(2,789)	(1,922)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(120,000)		(119,651)
Net excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	163	163		163
Cash dividends declared	(766)	(766)			(766)
Stock-based compensation expense	635	635		635
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	(7)	(7)			(7)
Changes in ownership of non-controlling interests	(68)						(68)
Balance at Oct. 31, 2009	40,764	40,517	24	13,804	29,936	(3,247)	247
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2009			2,364,809
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net earnings	8,870	8,761			8,761		109	8,870
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	16	16				16		16
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(32)	(32)				(32)		(32)
Net unrealized components of defined benefit pension plans	(602)	(602)				(602)		(602)
Net cumulative translation adjustment	32	28				28	4	32
Comprehensive income	8,284	8,171					113	8,284
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other	2,607	2,607	1	2,606
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other (in shares)			80,335
Repurchases of common stock	(11,071)	(11,071)	(3)	(5,809)	(5,259)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(241,000)		(241,246)
Net excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	300	300		300
Cash dividends declared	(771)	(743)			(743)		(28)
Stock-based compensation expense	668	668		668
Balance at Oct. 31, 2010	40,781	40,449	22	11,569	32,695	(3,837)	332
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2010	2,204,000		2,203,898
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net earnings	7,148	7,074			7,074		74	7,148
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	17	17				17		17
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	160	160				160		160
Net unrealized components of defined benefit pension plans	116	116				116		116
Net cumulative translation adjustment	29	46				46	(17)	29
Comprehensive income	7,470	7,413					57	7,470
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other	752	752	1	751
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock plans and other (in shares)			45,461
Repurchases of common stock	(9,968)	(9,968)	(3)	(6,296)	(3,669)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(259,000)		(258,853)
Net excess tax benefits from employee stock plans	128	128		128
Cash dividends declared	(844)	(834)			(834)		(10)
Stock-based compensation expense	685	685		685
Balance at Oct. 31, 2011	$ 39,004	$ 38,625	$ 20	$ 6,837	$ 35,266	$ (3,498)	$ 379
Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2011	1,991,000		1,990,506