Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity under certain condition.

No definition available.

Name:	ndsn_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityUnderCertainCondition
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period Of Unsecured Multicurrency Credit Facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ndsn_PeriodOfUnsecuredMulticurrencyCreditFacility
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ndsn_SubsequentEventsTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reflects when the credit facility terminates, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Subsequent events (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Dec. 09, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowings under bank lines of credit	$ 43,305	$ 500,000	$ 39,710
Subsequent Events (Textuals) [Abstract]
Period of unsecured multicurrency credit facility	5 years
Unsecured multicurrency credit facility increased under certain condition	750,000
Expiration year of loan agreement	2012
Swing Line Loans Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowings under bank lines of credit	$ 40,000