Business Segment Information (Schedule of Information by Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 518,700	$ 514,700	$ 483,800	$ 449,600	$ 455,500	$ 461,700	$ 434,700	$ 445,200	$ 1,966,814	$ 1,797,060	$ 1,717,776
Operating income (loss)									324,080	236,671	306,486
Other expense, net									2,257	3,083	1,987
Interest expense									26,190	18,103	7,965
Income before income taxes	68,900	$ 93,400	$ 82,600	$ 50,700	36,400	$ 44,600	$ 67,000	$ 67,500	295,633	215,485	296,534
Identifiable assets	4,475,918				4,459,864				4,475,918	4,459,864	4,458,300
Depreciation expense									137,500	139,900	102,500
Amortization expense									60,800	51,500	35,700
Capital expenditures									152,640	243,023	238,065
Corporate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									(45,900)	(49,200)	(51,500)
Identifiable assets	186,400				70,400				186,400	70,400	112,500
Depreciation expense									300	300	500
Amortization expense									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									0	100	300
Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,577,200	1,487,800	1,392,600
Operating income (loss)									309,800	229,800	289,000
Identifiable assets	3,382,400				3,714,600				3,382,400	3,714,600	3,699,600
Depreciation expense									131,300	134,000	95,500
Amortization expense									40,100	36,600	22,700
Capital expenditures									142,800	238,300	233,600
CooperSurgical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									389,600	309,300	325,200
Operating income (loss)									60,200	56,100	69,000
Identifiable assets	$ 907,100				$ 674,900				907,100	674,900	646,200
Depreciation expense									5,900	5,600	6,500
Amortization expense									20,700	14,900	13,000
Capital expenditures									$ 9,800	$ 4,600	$ 4,200