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Share-Based Compensation Plans - RSU Activity (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]      
Granted $ 27.7us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 19.7us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 16.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
RSUs      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation 0.1us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Number of Shares      
Outstanding at beginning of the year 1.4us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Granted 0.3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Issued (including .1 shares withheld for income taxes) (0.2)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Forfeited (0.1)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Outstanding at end of the year 1.4us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Vested at end of period 0.2abm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]      
Outstanding at beginning of the year $ 21.7us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Granted $ 27.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Issued (including .1 shares withheld for income taxes) $ 19.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Forfeited $ 22.2us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Outstanding at end of the year $ 23.4us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Vested at end of period $ 20.1abm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember