Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2018	Apr. 29, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000048465
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Oct. 28, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-28
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company	false
Emerging Growth Company	false
Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 9,908,981,177
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		534,595,685
Common Stock, Non-Voting
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		0