The maximum percentage of an employees salary that may be withheld and contributed into the plan.

No definition available.

Name:	abm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMaximumPercentageOfCompensationToPurchaseSharesByEligibleParticipants
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the remaining balance of shares originally authorized for issue under the employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanNumberofSharesAvailableforIssue
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of fair market value at which an employee can purchase shares under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_PercentageOfFairMarketValue
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The annual limit in which employees may contribute towards the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumContributionPerEmployee
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average price per share of common stock issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_StockIssuedDuringPeriodWeightedAveragePricePerShareEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the weighted average fair value of each purchase right under the employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_WeightedAverageFairValueofStockPurchaseRightUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate change in value for stock issued during the period as a result of employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualShareBasedPaymentsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis=abm_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Share-Based Compensation Plans - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Mar. 01, 2010	May 01, 2006
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Authorized for issuance	10,279,265
Weighted average fair values of purchase rights	$ 1.4	$ 1.1
Shares of stock issued under the plan	165,062	186,271	200,108
Weighted average price	$ 25.8	$ 21.3	$ 19.9
Aggregate purchases	$ 4,300,000	$ 4,000,000
Shares remaining unissued	402,881
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Authorized for issuance				3,000,000
Percentage of purchase price of fair market value of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the month					95.00%
Percentage of compensation to purchase	10.00%
Annual limit on purchase of stock	25,000
Weighted average fair values of purchase rights			$ 1.1
Aggregate purchases			$ 4,000,000