Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock Par Net Value [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning Balance at Oct. 31, 2013	$ 2,423,494	$ 4,800	$ (225,917)	$ 234	$ 1,329,329	$ (15,762)	$ 1,311,851	$ 18,959
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2013		47,995,000	2,340,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	269,856						269,856
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(90,420)					(90,420)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	8,585	$ 72	$ 7,033	(7)	1,487
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		720,000	(72,000)
Treasury stock repurchase	75,778	$ (57)	$ 75,778	57
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)		(572,000)	(572,000)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	19,469				19,469
Dividends on common stock	(2,884)						(2,884)
Share-based compensation expense	36,515				36,515
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,370)							(2,370)
Noncontrolling interests	1,973				0			1,973
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2014		48,143,000	2,840,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2014	2,588,440	$ 4,815	$ (294,662)	284	1,386,800	(106,182)	1,578,823	18,562
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	203,523						203,523
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(85,461)					(85,461)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	(4,816)	$ 59	$ 1,817	(2)	(6,690)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		593,000	(18,000)
Treasury stock repurchase	$ 67,304	$ (47)	$ 67,304	47
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)	(467,539)	(468,000)	(468,000)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	$ 18,268				18,268
Dividends on common stock	(2,906)						(2,906)
Share-based compensation expense	32,879				32,879
Purchase of shares from noncontrolling interests	(8,070)				3,448			(11,518)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(714)							(714)
Noncontrolling interests	65				0			65
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2015		48,268,000	3,290,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2015	2,673,904	$ 4,827	$ (360,149)	329	1,434,705	(191,643)	1,779,440	6,395
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	273,917						273,917
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(297,957)					(297,957)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	$ 7,214	$ 52	$ 0	0	7,162
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		517,000	0
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)	0
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	$ 20,908				20,908
Dividends on common stock	(2,914)						(2,914)
Share-based compensation expense	29,858				29,858
Purchase of shares from noncontrolling interests	(2,229)				1,332			(3,561)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(697)							(697)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Deconsolidation	(1,969)							(1,969)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2016		48,785,000	3,290,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2016	$ 2,700,035	$ 4,879	$ (360,149)	$ 329	$ 1,493,965	$ (489,600)	$ 2,050,443	$ 168