Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2019	Jul. 28, 2019	Apr. 28, 2019	Jan. 27, 2019	Oct. 28, 2018	Jul. 29, 2018	Apr. 29, 2018	Jan. 28, 2018	Oct. 27, 2019	Oct. 28, 2018	[1]	Oct. 29, 2017	[1]
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 2,501,513	$ 2,290,705	$ 2,344,744	$ 2,360,355	$ 2,524,697	$ 2,359,142	$ 2,330,568	$ 2,331,293	$ 9,497,317	$ 9,545,700		$ 9,167,519
Gross Profit	493,723	433,442	469,149	488,334	533,328	455,046	492,803	498,296	1,884,648	1,979,473		1,996,636
Net Earnings	255,566	199,427	282,636	241,519	261,496	210,353	237,522	303,211	979,148	1,012,582		847,103
Net Earnings Attributable to Hormel Foods Corporation	$ 255,503	$ 199,449	$ 282,429	$ 241,425	$ 261,406	$ 210,243	$ 237,384	$ 303,107	$ 978,806	$ 1,012,140		$ 846,735
Basic Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.37	$ 0.53	$ 0.45	$ 0.49	$ 0.40	$ 0.45	$ 0.57	$ 1.83	$ 1.91		$ 1.60
Diluted Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.37	$ 0.52	$ 0.44	$ 0.48	$ 0.39	$ 0.44	$ 0.56	$ 1.80	$ 1.86		$ 1.57

[1] Adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits: Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (Topic 715). See Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.