Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2020	Jul. 26, 2020	Apr. 26, 2020	Jan. 26, 2020	Oct. 27, 2019	Jul. 28, 2019	Apr. 28, 2019	Jan. 27, 2019	Oct. 25, 2020	Oct. 27, 2019	Oct. 28, 2018	[1]
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 2,420,105	$ 2,381,457	$ 2,422,465	$ 2,384,434	$ 2,501,513	$ 2,290,705	$ 2,344,744	$ 2,360,355	$ 9,608,462	$ 9,497,317	$ 9,545,700
Gross Profit	457,765	422,426	477,352	468,421	493,723	433,442	469,149	488,334	1,825,963	1,884,648	1,979,473
Net Earnings	234,526	203,260	227,615	242,953	255,566	199,427	282,636	241,519	908,354	979,148	1,012,582
Net Earnings Attributable to Hormel Foods Corporation	$ 234,356	$ 203,119	$ 227,734	$ 242,872	$ 255,503	$ 199,449	$ 282,429	$ 241,425	$ 908,082	$ 978,806	$ 1,012,140
Basic Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.38	$ 0.42	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.37	$ 0.53	$ 0.45	$ 1.69	$ 1.83	$ 1.91
Diluted Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.37	$ 0.42	$ 0.45	$ 0.47	$ 0.37	$ 0.52	$ 0.44	$ 1.66	$ 1.80	$ 1.86

[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.