Intangible Assets (Schedule of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	$ 2,220,921us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 1,387,611us-gaap_Goodwill
Net additions during the period ended		882,689us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Translation	(63,344)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments	(49,379)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Balance, ending	2,157,577us-gaap_Goodwill	2,220,921us-gaap_Goodwill
CooperVision [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	1,861,561	1,048,478
Net additions during the period ended		857,146
Translation	(57,017)	(44,063)
Balance, ending	1,804,544	1,861,561
CooperSurgical [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning	359,360	339,133
Net additions during the period ended		25,543
Translation	(6,327)	(5,316)
Balance, ending	$ 353,033	$ 359,360

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=coo_CoopersurgicalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=coo_CoopervisionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: