Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2019	Nov. 29, 2019	Apr. 28, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Oct. 27, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-2402
Entity Registrant Name	HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	41-0319970
Entity Address, Address Line One	1 Hormel Place
Entity Address, City or Town	Austin
Entity Address, State or Province	MN
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	55912-3680
City Area Code	507
Local Phone Number	437-5611
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	HRL
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company	false
Emerging Growth Company	false
Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 11,072,534,818
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held January 28, 2020, are incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10-14. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates.
Entity Central Index Key	0000048465
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-27
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		534,736,743
Common Stock, Non-Voting
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		0