Represents commercial insurance umbrella policies that cover general liability losses above ABM's primary limits.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the policy limit provided by the insurance program for property damage risks.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	abm_ScheduleOfOtherLiabilitiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Self Insured Retention Amount Per Claim

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_SelfInsuredRetentionAmountPerClaim
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Self Insured Retention Amount Per Participant Per Year For Certain Employee Medical And Dental Programs

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_SelfInsuredRetentionAmountPerParticipantPerYearForCertainEmployeeMedicalAndDentalPrograms
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total Instruments Used To Collateralize Insurance Obligations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abm_TotalInstrumentsUsedToCollateralizeInsuranceObligations
Namespace Prefix:	abm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the policy limit provided by the insurance program for workers' compensation, general liability, and other insurable risks.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts expected to be recovered under the terms of insurance contracts.

+ 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 210.5-02.17)

-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 17

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EstimatedInsuranceRecoveries
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the period in the carrying amount of accrued known and estimated losses incurred for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's' compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInSelfInsuranceReserve
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions) of accrued known and estimated losses incurred as of the balance sheet date for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	abm_InsurancePoliciesAxis=abm_MedicalAndDentalSelfInsuranceProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=abm_OtherCurrentAssetsandOtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Insurance - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
Insurance - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Schedule of Other Liabilities
Total Instruments Used To Collateralize Insurance Obligations	$ 172,300,000		$ 172,300,000	$ 175,100,000
Self insurance retention amount per-claim	1,000,000.0abm_SelfInsuredRetentionAmountPerClaim
Insurance policy coverage, general liability losses	200,000,000.0		200,000,000.0
Insurance policy coverage, property damage	75,000,000.0abm_PropertyDamagePolicyLimit		75,000,000.0abm_PropertyDamagePolicyLimit
Insurance claims	(6,000,000)	(1,100,000)
Insurance claim reserves	343,900,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve		343,900,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve	349,700,000us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve
Medical and Dental Self Insurance Program
Schedule of Other Liabilities
Insurance claim reserves	7,700,000		7,700,000	4,800,000
Minimum
Schedule of Other Liabilities
Workers Compensation General Liability and Other Insurable Risks Insurance Policy Limit	1,000,000.0		1,000,000.0
Maximum
Schedule of Other Liabilities
Workers Compensation General Liability and Other Insurable Risks Insurance Policy Limit	5,000,000.0		5,000,000.0
Self insurance retention amount per-claim	400,000
Corporate Segment
Schedule of Other Liabilities
Insurance claims			3,000,000
Other Current Assets and Other Assets
Schedule of Other Liabilities
Insurance recoverables	$ 66,500,000		$ 66,500,000	$ 66,400,000