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Employee Benefit Plans - Defined Benefit Plans (Details) (Defined Benefit Plans, USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Net obligation recognized in Balance Sheet $ 8.2us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInBalanceSheet $ 10.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmountsRecognizedInBalanceSheet  
Projected benefit obligations in the aggregate 16.0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateProjectedBenefitObligation 17.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateProjectedBenefitObligation  
Fair value of plan assets 7.8us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets 7.6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets  
Expected return on plan assets 0.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets 0.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets 0.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedReturnOnPlanAssets
Net periodic benefit cost 0.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost 0.4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost 0.5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCost
Future benefit payments in aggregate $ 10.3abm_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsAggregate    
Equities      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Investments of plan assets 53.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Fixed Income Funds      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Investments of plan assets 30.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeFundsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
   
Cash and Cash Equivalents      
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]      
Investments of plan assets 17.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember