Debt instrument maturity month and year.

No definition available.

Name:	ndsn_DebtInstrumentMaturityMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Duration of repayment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line of credit facility expiration.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ndsn_LineOfCreditFacilityExpiration
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long term debt current borrowing capacity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum life of borrowings.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period of agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Remaining weighted average life of notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of loans payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_SeniorNotesDueFromTwoThousandAndEighteenToTwoThousandAndTwentyFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_SeniorNotesDueFromTwoThousandAndNineteenToTwoThousandAndTwentySevenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_SeniorNotesDueFromTwoThousandAndTwentyThreeToTwoThousandAndThirtyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_TermLoanDueTwoThousandAndEighteenToTwoThousandAndTwentyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=ndsn_GroupOfBanksMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_TermLoanDueTwoThousandAndEighteenToTwoThousandAndTwentyTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_TermLoanThreePointTwoFourPercentDueInMarchTwoThousandAndTwentyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_TermLoanTwoPointThreeFivePercentDueInThreeYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_TermLoanTwoPointThreeEightPercentDueInFiveYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_EuroLoanDueTwoThousandAndTwentyOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ndsn_BankOfAmericaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=ndsn_RevolvingCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=ndsn_PrivateShelfFacilityDueTwoZeroOneEightToTwoZeroTwoSixMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_NoteAAndBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ndsn_NoteCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=ndsn_LoansPayableWithStateOfOhioMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=ndsn_CuyahogaCountyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Annual maturity of long term debt, 2019	$ 28,734,000
Annual maturity of long term debt, 2020	220,938,000
Annual maturity of long term debt, 2021	255,153,000
Annual maturity of long term debt, 2022	335,791,000
Annual maturity of long term debt, 2023	$ 130,796,000
Senior Notes, Due 2018-2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remaining weighted average life of notes	3 years 5 months 12 days
Weighted average interest for borrowings	3.03%
Senior Notes, Due 2019-2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remaining weighted average life of notes	5 years 2 months 26 days
Weighted average interest for borrowings	3.04%
Senior Notes, Due 2023-2030 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remaining weighted average life of notes	7 years 18 days
Weighted average interest for borrowings	3.90%
Term Loan, Due 2018-2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan				$ 200,000,000
Term Loan, Due 2018-2020 [Member] \| Group of Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan	$ 200,000,000
Repayment of term loan	200,000,000
Term Loan, Due 2018-2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan	605,000,000			$ 705,000,000
Term Loan, Due 2018-2022 [Member] \| Group of Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan	705,000,000
Repayment of term loan	$ 100,000,000
Term Loan 3.24 Percent Due in March 2020 [Member] \| Group of Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest for borrowings	3.24%
Term loan	$ 100,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity period	2020-03
Term Loan 3.19 Percent Due in October 2021 [Member] \| Group of Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest for borrowings	3.19%
Term loan	$ 200,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity period	2021-10
Term Loan 3.26 Percent Due in March 2022 [Member] \| Group of Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest for borrowings	3.26%
Term loan	$ 305,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity period	2022-03
Euro Loan, Due 2021 [Member] \| Bank of America [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest for borrowings	0.88%
Revolving Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility	$ 850,000,000
Revolving credit facility expiration	2020-02
Weighted average interest for borrowings	3.10%
Private Shelf Facility, Due 2018-2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Value of agreement with New York Life Investment Management LLC	$ 150,000,000
Period of agreement	3 years
Long term debt current borrowing capacity		$ 200,000,000	$ 180,000,000
Maximum life of borrowings	12 years
Private Shelf Facility, Due 2018-2026 [Member] \| Note A and B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rates	2.21%
Private Shelf Facility, Due 2018-2026 [Member] \| Note C [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rates	2.56%
Loans Payable with State of Ohio [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rates	3.00%
Duration of repayment	15 years
Cuyahoga County [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed interest rates	3.50%
Duration of repayment	15 years