Business Segment Information (Schedule of Segment Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 651.5	$ 660.0	$ 631.3	$ 590.0	$ 561.5	$ 556.0	$ 522.4	$ 499.1	$ 2,532.8	$ 2,139.0	$ 1,966.8
Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,882.0	1,674.1	1,577.2
CooperSurgical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									650.8	464.9	389.6
Toric lens [Member] | Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									591.4	526.8	480.2
Multifocal lens [Member] | Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									196.6	177.2	169.8
Single-use sphere lens [Member] | Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									520.1	438.3	403.1
Non single-use sphere and other eye care products and other [Member] | Coopervision [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 573.9	$ 531.8	$ 524.1