Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2018	Jul. 29, 2018	Apr. 29, 2018	Jan. 28, 2018	Oct. 29, 2017	Jul. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 29, 2017	Oct. 28, 2018	Oct. 29, 2017	Oct. 30, 2016	[1]
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,524,697	$ 2,359,142	$ 2,330,568	$ 2,331,293	$ 2,492,608	$ 2,207,375	$ 2,187,309	$ 2,280,227	$ 9,545,700	$ 9,167,519	$ 9,523,224
Gross Profit	537,396	459,172	496,686	502,179	511,554	452,409	486,920	552,280	1,995,433	2,003,163	2,158,175
Net Earnings	261,496	210,353	237,522	303,211	218,363	182,551	210,886	235,303	1,012,582	847,103	890,517	[2],[3]
Net Earnings Attributable to Hormel Foods Corporation	$ 261,406	$ 210,243	$ 237,384	$ 303,107	$ 218,154	$ 182,508	$ 210,926	$ 235,147	$ 1,012,140	$ 846,735	$ 890,052
Basic Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.40	$ 0.45	$ 0.57	$ 0.41	$ 0.35	$ 0.40	$ 0.44	$ 1.91	$ 1.60	$ 1.68
Diluted Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.39	$ 0.44	$ 0.56	$ 0.41	$ 0.34	$ 0.39	$ 0.44	$ 1.86	$ 1.57	$ 1.64

[1] Fiscal 2016 included 53 weeks.

[2] Fiscal 2016 included 53 weeks.

[3] Fiscal 2016 included 53 weeks.