Borrowings (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2007	Mar. 31, 2008	Jan. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	May 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 1999
Long-term debt
Total	$ 15,464		$ 15,464			$ 16,039
Fair value adjustment related to hedged debt	170		170			120
Less: current portion	(1,930)		(1,930)			(2,655)
Interest expense on borrowings recognized in Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings
Financing interest	61	69	124	141
Interest expense	75	91	142	190
Total interest expense	136	160	266	331
U.S. Dollar Global Notes
Long-term debt
Total	16,438		16,438			17,837
2006 Shelf Registration Statement-$500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.694% in February 2007 at 5.4%, due March 2017
Long-term debt
Total	500		500			500
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.694%		99.694%			99.694%	99.694%
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.40%		5.40%			5.40%	5.40%
Face amount of debt instrument	500		500			500	500
2006 Shelf Registration Statement-$750 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.932% in March 2008 at 5.5%, due March 2018
Long-term debt
Total	750		750			750
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.932%		99.932%			99.932%		99.932%
Interest rate (as a percent)	5.50%		5.50%			5.50%		5.50%
Face amount of debt instrument	750		750			750		750
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,100 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.887% in September 2010 at 2.125%, due September 2015
Long-term debt
Total	1,100		1,100			1,100
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.887%		99.887%			99.887%				99.887%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.125%		2.125%			2.125%				2.125%
Face amount of debt instrument						1,100			1,100	1,100
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$650 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.911% in December 2010 at 2.2%, due December 2015
Long-term debt
Total	650		650			650
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.911%		99.911%			99.911%					99.911%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.20%		2.20%			2.20%					2.20%
Face amount of debt instrument	650		650			650					650
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,350 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.827% in December 2010 at 3.75%, due December 2020
Long-term debt
Total	1,349		1,349			1,349
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.827%		99.827%			99.827%					99.827%
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.75%		3.75%			3.75%					3.75%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,350		1,350			1,350					1,350
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.958% in May 2011 at 2.65%, due June 2016
Long-term debt
Total	1,000		1,000			1,000
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.958%		99.958%			99.958%						99.958%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.65%		2.65%			2.65%						2.65%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,000		1,000			1,000						1,000
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,250 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.799% in May 2011 at 4.3%, due June 2021
Long-term debt
Total	1,248		1,248			1,248
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.799%		99.799%			99.799%						99.799%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.30%		4.30%			4.30%						4.30%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,250		1,250			1,250						1,250
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$750 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.977% in September 2011 at 2.35%, paid March 2015
Long-term debt
Total						750
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.977%		99.977%			99.977%							99.977%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.35%		2.35%			2.35%							2.35%
Face amount of debt instrument	750		750			750							750
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,300 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.784% in September 2011 at 3.0%, due September 2016
Long-term debt
Total	1,299		1,299			1,298
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.784%		99.784%			99.784%							99.784%
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.00%		3.00%			3.00%							3.00%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,300		1,300			1,300							1,300
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,000 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.816% in September 2011 at 4.375%, due September 2021
Long-term debt
Total	999		999			999
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.816%		99.816%			99.816%							99.816%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.375%		4.375%			4.375%							4.375%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,000		1,000			1,000							1,000
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,200 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.863% in September 2011 at 6.0%, due September 2041
Long-term debt
Total	1,199		1,199			1,199
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.863%		99.863%			99.863%							99.863%
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%		6.00%			6.00%							6.00%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,200		1,200			1,200							1,200
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$650 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.946% in December 2011 at 2.625%, paid December 2014
Long-term debt
Total						650
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.946%		99.946%			99.946%								99.946%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.625%		2.625%			2.625%								2.625%
Face amount of debt instrument	650		650			650								650
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$850 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.790% in December 2011 at 3.3%, due December 2016
Long-term debt
Total	849		849			849
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.79%		99.79%			99.79%								99.79%
Interest rate (as a percent)	3.30%		3.30%			3.30%								3.30%
Face amount of debt instrument	850		850			850								850
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.707% in December 2011 at 4.65%, due December 2021
Long-term debt
Total	1,496		1,496			1,496
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.707%		99.707%			99.707%								99.707%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.65%		4.65%			4.65%								4.65%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,500		1,500			1,500								1,500
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.985% in March 2012 at 2.6%, due September 2017
Long-term debt
Total	1,500		1,500			1,500
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.985%		99.985%			99.985%									99.985%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.60%		2.60%			2.60%									2.60%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,500		1,500			1,500									1,500
2009 Shelf Registration Statement-$500 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.771% in March 2012 at 4.05%, due September 2022
Long-term debt
Total	499		499			499
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.771%		99.771%			99.771%									99.771%
Interest rate (as a percent)	4.05%		4.05%			4.05%									4.05%
Face amount of debt instrument	500		500			500									500
2012 Shelf Registration Statement-$750 issued at par in January 2014 at three-month USD LIBOR plus 0.94%, due January 2019
Long-term debt
Total	750		750			750
Face amount of debt instrument	750		750		750	750
Reference interest rate			three-month Libor		three-month Libor	three-month Libor
Spread on reference interest rate (as a percent)			0.94%		0.94%	0.94%
2012 Shelf Registration Statement-$1,250 issued at discount to par at a price of 99.954% in January 2014 at 2.75%, due January 2019
Long-term debt
Total	1,250		1,250			1,250
Discount to par (as a percent)	99.954%		99.954%		99.954%	99.954%
Interest rate (as a percent)	2.75%		2.75%		2.75%	2.75%
Face amount of debt instrument	1,250		1,250		1,250	1,250
EDS Senior Notes-$300 issued October 1999 at 7.45%, due October 2029
Long-term debt
Total	313		313			313
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.45%		7.45%			7.45%										7.45%
Face amount of debt instrument	300		300			300										300
Other, including capital lease obligations, at 0.00%-8.50%, due in calendar years 2014-2024
Long-term debt
Other, including capital lease obligations	473		473			424
Minimum interest rate (as a percent)			0.00%			0.00%
Maximum interest rate (as a percent)			8.30%			8.30%
Other, including capital lease obligations, at 0.00%-8.50%, due in calendar years 2014-2024 | HP Financial Services
Long-term debt
Other, including capital lease obligations	$ 196		$ 196			$ 123