Business Segment Information (Schedule of Information by Business Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 467,997	$ 432,482	$ 412,317	$ 404,980	$ 411,852	$ 411,993	$ 384,041	$ 379,839	$ 1,717,776	$ 1,587,725	$ 1,445,136
Operating income (loss)										306,486	305,945	283,398
Other income (expense), net										(1,987)	1,410	229
Interest expense										(7,965)	(9,168)	(11,771)
Gain on insurance proceeds	19,100								14,100	0	14,084	5,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt												(1,404)
Income before income taxes		34,875	94,383	87,821	79,456	61,091	91,264	78,940	80,976	296,534	312,271	275,452
Identifiable assets		4,458,340				3,137,261				4,458,340	3,137,261	2,941,384
Depreciation expense										102,491	95,110	87,235
Amortization expense										35,710	30,239	23,979
Capital expenditures										238,065	178,127	99,779
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										0	0	0
Operating income (loss)										(51,543)	(44,012)	(38,364)
Identifiable assets		112,526				128,395				112,526	128,395	82,235
Depreciation expense										470	444	300
Amortization expense										0	0	0
Capital expenditures										260	500	673
Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										1,392,647	1,268,319	1,189,244
Operating income (loss)										288,998	289,272	262,806
Identifiable assets		3,699,614				2,376,022				3,699,614	2,376,022	2,251,476
Depreciation expense										95,535	88,350	82,829
Amortization expense										22,704	16,710	15,578
Capital expenditures										233,632	170,739	92,459
CooperSurgical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales										325,129	319,406	255,892
Operating income (loss)										69,031	60,685	58,956
Identifiable assets		646,200				632,844				646,200	632,844	607,673
Depreciation expense										6,486	6,316	4,106
Amortization expense										13,006	13,529	8,401
Capital expenditures										$ 4,173	$ 6,888	$ 6,647