Taxes on Earnings (Details 5) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			48 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011 M country	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009	Oct. 31, 2006
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance at beginning of period	$ 2,085,000,000	$ 1,888,000,000	$ 2,333,000,000
Increases:
For current year's tax positions	384,000,000	27,000,000	115,000,000
For prior years' tax positions	426,000,000	347,000,000	626,000,000
Decreases:
For prior years' tax positions	(159,000,000)	(120,000,000)	(762,000,000)
Statute of limitations expiration	(20,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(293,000,000)
Settlements with taxing authorities	(598,000,000)	(56,000,000)	(131,000,000)
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance at end of period	2,118,000,000	2,085,000,000	1,888,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate if realized	1,100,000,000	1,000,000,000	950,000,000
Accrued income tax payable for interest and penalties	205,000,000
Net interest expense on tax deficiencies, net of tax	24,000,000
Income tax examination, likelihood of no resolution period (in months)	12
Income tax examination, likelihood of conclusion period (in months)	12
Reasonably possible, reduction in existing unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months	249,000,000
Number of foreign countries in which HP is subject to income taxes	80
Income tax examination, additional tax payable				110,000,000
Income tax examination, reduction in tax benefits	557,000,000			30,000,000
Undistributed earnings from non-U.S. operations	$ 29,100,000,000