Business Segment Information (Schedule of Information by Business Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 396,301	$ 378,186	$ 344,589	$ 326,060	$ 360,909	$ 351,396	$ 325,301	$ 293,229	$ 1,445,136	$ 1,330,835	$ 1,158,517
Operating income (loss)									283,398	227,556	189,912
Other income (expense), net									229	(963)	(1,068)
Interest expense									(11,771)	(17,342)	(36,668)
Gain on insurance proceeds	5,000								5,000	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(1,404)	(16,487)
Litigation settlement charges									0	0	(27,750)
Income before income taxes	82,639	71,387	62,679	58,747	62,880	49,136	39,720	41,028	275,452	192,764	124,426
Identifiable assets	2,941,384				2,624,518				2,941,384	2,624,518	2,525,018
Depreciation expense									87,235	77,620	75,945
Amortization expense									23,979	20,529	18,056
Capital expenditures									99,779	103,665	73,757
CooperVision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,189,244	1,121,138	970,483
Operating income (loss)									262,806	207,485	171,345
Identifiable assets	2,251,476				2,206,068				2,251,476	2,206,068	2,141,685
Depreciation expense									82,829	74,146	72,717
Amortization expense									15,578	14,245	12,361
Capital expenditures									92,459	97,131	69,793
CooperSurgical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									255,892	209,697	188,034
Operating income (loss)									58,956	52,420	47,064
Identifiable assets	607,673				354,020				607,673	354,020	328,931
Depreciation expense									4,106	3,264	2,913
Amortization expense									8,401	6,284	5,695
Capital expenditures									6,647	6,287	3,871
Corporate & Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									(38,364)	(32,349)	(28,497)
Identifiable assets	82,235				64,430				82,235	64,430	54,402
Depreciation expense									300	210	315
Amortization expense									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									$ 673	$ 247	$ 93