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Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill accumulated impairment loss $ 232,789us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss $ 232,789us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Intangible assets, amortization expense 25,308us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 22,672us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Advanced Technology Systems [Member]    
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill accumulated impairment loss 229,173us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ndsn_AdvancedTechnologySystemsMember
229,173us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ndsn_AdvancedTechnologySystemsMember
Industrial Coating Systems [Member]    
Goodwill [Line Items]    
Goodwill accumulated impairment loss $ 3,616us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ndsn_IndustrialCoatingSystemsMember
$ 3,616us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ndsn_IndustrialCoatingSystemsMember