Capital Shares - Capital Shares (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2016
Equity [Abstract]
Number of Shares	145	447
Total Amount	$ 18,939	$ 31,877
Average per Share	$ 130.21	$ 71.37

Number of shares that have been repurchased under publically announced programs during the period and are being held in treasury.

No definition available.

Name:	ndsn_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodForPublicallyAnnouncedProgram
Namespace Prefix:	ndsn_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration