Amount Recognized In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss from Cash Flow Hedges Effect Gross

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount Recognized In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss from Cash Flow Hedges Effect Net Of Tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The financial covenant pertaining to the minimum consolidated net worth.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument Covenant, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Minimum

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument Covenant, Total Leverage Ratio, Maximum

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Unused Portion, Commitment Fee Percentage, Increase (Decrease) in Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The financial covenant pertaining to the minimum consolidated net worth, as it relates to stockholders equity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_PercentageOfCapitalSurplus
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The financial covenant pertaining to the minimum consolidated net worth, as it relates to net income earned each full fiscal quarter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_PercentageOfConsolidatedNetIncome
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of unrealized gains or losses on interest rate cash flow hedges as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-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

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

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

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- Details

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- 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

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Line of Credit - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2010	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 11, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Credit agreement term	5 years
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 650.0
Syndicated line of credit, increased capacity	650.0
Covenants maximum leverage ratio		3.25
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio		1.50
Consolidated net worth		570.0
Consolidated net income earned		50.00%abm_PercentageOfConsolidatedNetIncome
Aggregate increases in stockholders' equity		100.00%abm_PercentageOfCapitalSurplus
Line of credit, amount outstanding		319.8us-gaap_LineOfCredit			314.9us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Standby letters of credit		114.9			100.6
Line of credit, borrowing capacity currently available		365.3			234.5
Unrealized net loss related to the interest rate swap contract		0.1
Standby Letters of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	300.0
Swing Line Loan
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity	50.0
Second Amendment
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date				Sep. 08, 2016
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Portion, Commitment Fee Percentage, Increase (Decrease) in Percentage			0.025%
Syndicated line of credit, increased capacity			800.0
Second Amendment \| Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Percentage of commitment fee on the unused portion of the Facility			0.20%
Second Amendment \| Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity		1,000.0
Percentage of commitment fee on the unused portion of the Facility			0.275%
Second Amendment \| Federal Funds Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate	0.50%
Second Amendment \| One Month Eurodollar Rate
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate	1.00%
Second Amendment \| Base Rate \| Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate	0.00%
Second Amendment \| Base Rate \| Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate	0.75%
Second Amendment \| Eurodollar \| Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate	1.00%
Second Amendment \| Eurodollar \| Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate	1.75%
Interest Rate Swap
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Notional amount		155.0
Effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax		0.2			0.2
Effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax		$ 0.1			$ 0.1
Interest Rate Swap \| Minimum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Derivative, fixed interest rate		0.44%
Interest Rate Swap \| Maximum
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Derivative, fixed interest rate		0.47%