Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 384,041	$ 344,589	$ 763,880	$ 670,649
Cost of sales	129,862	123,893	269,203	239,500
Gross profit	254,179	220,696	494,677	431,149
Selling, general and administrative expense	150,693	136,962	301,346	268,710
Research and development expense	14,490	13,031	28,143	24,455
Amortization of intangibles	7,523	5,263	14,895	10,816
Operating income	81,473	65,440	150,293	127,168
Interest expense	2,444	3,071	5,010	6,733
Gain on insurance proceeds	0	0	14,084	0
Other (expense) income, net	(89)	310	549	992
Income before income taxes	78,940	62,679	159,916	121,427
Provision for income taxes	3,473	7,758	9,515	11,883
Net income	75,467	54,921	150,401	109,544
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interests	331	0	598	0
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	$ 75,136	$ 54,921	$ 149,803	$ 109,544
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.55	$ 1.15	$ 3.09	$ 2.30
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.52	$ 1.12	$ 3.02	$ 2.24
Number of shares used to compute earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	48,494	47,708	48,485	47,691
Diluted (in shares)	49,478	49,007	49,555	48,941