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Retirement, Pension and Other Postretirement Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Expenses on retirement plan $ 14,423us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized $ 12,955us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized $ 10,827us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Defined contribution plan vesting period 3 years    
Equity Securities [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Percentage of target rate in return seeking assets 45.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
   
Debt Securities [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Percentage of target rate in return seeking assets 55.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Pension Plan, United States [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Settlement loss 632us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToSettlements1
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
  682us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRecognizedNetGainLossDueToSettlements1
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Change in projected benefit obligation 28,554ndsn_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligationMortalityTableAdoptionPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
   
Percentage of World wide pension assets 88.00%ndsn_PlanAssetsAsPercentageOfWorldWidePensionAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
   
Investments in common shares 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfSharesOfEquitySecuritiesIssuedByEmployerAndRelatedPartiesIncludedInPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfSharesOfEquitySecuritiesIssuedByEmployerAndRelatedPartiesIncludedInPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
 
Pension Plan, International [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Percentage of World wide pension assets 12.00%ndsn_PlanAssetsAsPercentageOfWorldWidePensionAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Employer contribution in next fiscal year 26,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Components of Net Postretirement Benefit Cost [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Employer contribution in next fiscal year 2,100us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Postretirement Benefit Plans, United States [Member]      
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]      
Change in projected benefit obligation $ 4,878ndsn_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligationMortalityTableAdoptionPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember