Taxes on Earnings (Detail 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			15 Months Ended	46 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014 item	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2009	Aug. 26, 2008
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits
Balance at beginning of year	$ 3,484,000,000	$ 2,573,000,000	$ 2,118,000,000
Increases:
For current year's tax positions	304,000,000	290,000,000	209,000,000
For prior years' tax positions	593,000,000	997,000,000	651,000,000
Decreases:
For prior years' tax positions	(125,000,000)	(146,000,000)	(321,000,000)
Statute of limitations expiration	(46,000,000)	(11,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Settlements with taxing authorities	(82,000,000)	(219,000,000)	(83,000,000)
Balance at end of year	4,128,000,000	3,484,000,000	2,573,000,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate if realized	2,200,000,000	1,900,000,000	1,400,000,000
Accrued income tax for interest and penalties	254,000,000	196,000,000
Likelihood of no resolution period	12 months
Likelihood of conclusion period for certain federal, foreign and state tax issues	12 months
Reasonably possible decrease in existing unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months	1,400,000,000
Number of other countries in which HP is subject to income taxes	105
Income tax examination, reduction in tax benefits	445,000,000
Income tax examination, additional tax payable				62,000,000	274,000,000
Income tax examination, proposed assessment amount	680,000,000
Undistributed earnings from non-U.S. operations	$ 42,900,000,000