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, 2014	$ 2,588,400	$ 4,800	$ (294,600)	$ 200	$ 1,386,800	$ (106,200)	$ 1,578,800	$ 18,600
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2014		48,100,000	2,800,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Prior year adjustment (see note 1)	(4,100)						(4,100)
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	203,500						203,500
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(85,400)					(85,400)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	(4,800)	$ 100	$ 1,800	0	(6,700)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		700,000	0
Treasury stock repurchase	(67,300)	$ (100)	$ (67,300)	100
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)		500,000	500,000
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	18,300				18,300
Dividends on common stock	(2,900)						(2,900)
Share-based compensation expense	32,900				32,900
Purchase of shares from noncontrolling interests	(8,100)				3,400			(11,500)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(700)				0			(700)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2015		48,300,000	3,300,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2015	2,669,800	$ 4,800	$ (360,100)	300	1,434,700	(191,600)	1,775,300	6,400
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	273,900						273,900
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(298,000)					(298,000)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	$ 7,200	$ 100		0	7,100
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		500,000	0
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)	0
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	$ 20,900				20,900
Dividends on common stock	(2,900)						(2,900)
Share-based compensation expense	29,900				29,900
Purchase of shares from noncontrolling interests	(2,200)				1,400			(3,600)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(700)				0			(700)
Noncontrolling interests	(2,000)							(2,000)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2016		48,800,000	3,300,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2016	2,695,900	$ 4,900	$ (360,100)	300	1,494,000	(489,600)	2,046,300	100
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASU2016-09 adoption	17,700				(200)		17,900
Net income attributable to Cooper stockholders	372,900						372,900
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	114,300					114,300
Issuance of common stock for stock plans	(5,300)				(5,300)
Issuance of common stock for stock plans (in shares)		300,000	0
Treasury stock repurchase	$ (55,000)	$ 0	$ (55,000)	0
Treasury stock repurchase (in shares)	257,500	300,000	300,000
Dividends on common stock	$ (2,900)						(2,900)
Share-based compensation expense	38,200				38,200
Ending Balance (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2017		48,800,000	3,600,000
Ending Balance at Oct. 31, 2017	$ 3,175,800	$ 4,900	$ (415,100)	$ 300	$ 1,526,700	$ (375,300)	$ 2,434,200	$ 100