Subsidiary Guarantors (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2013	Apr. 27, 2012	Apr. 26, 2013	Apr. 27, 2012	Oct. 26, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	$ 1,360,435	$ 1,541,060	$ 2,510,312	$ 2,677,261
Cost of sales	909,179	1,030,689	1,682,328	1,803,465
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	172,953	182,033	330,234	353,389
Other income (expense)	(330)	(5,099)	(2,035)	(26,776)
Operating income	278,633	333,437	499,785	547,183
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	263,448	316,317	469,447	513,986
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	81,669	98,365	145,529	153,515
Income from continuing operations	181,779	217,952	323,918	360,471
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(33)	0	(142)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	181,779	217,919	323,918	360,329
ASSETS
Current assets	3,111,607		3,111,607		3,156,077
Property, plant and equipment, net	890,072		890,072		832,862
Total assets	6,188,502	6,222,589	6,188,502	6,222,589	6,142,503
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	11,581		11,581		13,147
Long-term obligations	1,309,775		1,309,775		1,306,625
Accrued pension costs	254,432		254,432		335,813
Other non-current liabilities	165,163		165,163		142,059
Total liabilities	3,311,489		3,311,489		3,565,314
Shareholders’ equity	2,877,013		2,877,013		2,577,189
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	6,188,502		6,188,502		6,142,503
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations			93,275	96,447
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations			(2,372)	(10,158)
Net cash provided by operating activities			90,903	86,289
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of controlling interest in International Mining Machinery, net of cash acquired			0	(939,449)
Withdrawal of cash held in escrow			0	849,700
Other investing activities, net			2,117	1,549
Net cash used by investing activities			(84,884)	(202,292)
Net cash used by financing activities			(32,986)	221,687
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(2,031)	(3,028)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(28,998)	102,656
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			263,873	288,321
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	234,875	390,977	234,875	390,977
Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	16,608	15,664	29,410	42,659
Other income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Operating income	(16,608)	(15,664)	(29,410)	(42,659)
Intercompany items	26,889	17,770	58,009	32,493
Interest income (expense), net	(10,355)	(17,839)	(32,925)	(34,532)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(74)	(15,733)	(4,326)	(44,698)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(11,361)	(19,890)	(20,637)	(33,132)
Equity in income of subsidiaries	170,492	213,795	307,607	372,037
Income from continuing operations		217,952		360,471
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		(33)		(142)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	181,779	217,919	323,918	360,329
ASSETS
Current assets	92,611		92,611		97,443
Property, plant and equipment, net	15,317		15,317		12,515
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	4,379,517		4,379,517		4,178,760
Total assets	4,487,445		4,487,445		4,288,718
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	81,215		81,215		106,207
Current liabilities of discontinued operations					0
Long-term obligations	1,308,784		1,308,784		1,305,413
Accrued pension costs	241,216		241,216		322,310
Other non-current liabilities	(20,783)		(20,783)		(22,401)
Total liabilities	1,610,432		1,610,432		1,711,529
Shareholders’ equity	2,877,013		2,877,013		2,577,189
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,487,445		4,487,445		4,288,718
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations			26,790	(60,722)
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations			0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities			26,790	(60,722)
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of controlling interest in International Mining Machinery, net of cash acquired				(1,012,361)
Withdrawal of cash held in escrow				849,700
Other investing activities, net				(3,166)
Net cash used by investing activities			(2,878)	(165,827)
Net cash used by financing activities			(27,202)	226,659
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			0	0
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(3,290)	110
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			3,459	100,181
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	169	100,291	169	100,291
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	816,797	864,474	1,417,753	1,572,717
Cost of sales	578,803	589,484	989,446	1,078,833
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	79,826	85,933	153,943	168,636
Other income (expense)	6,785	4,276	15,961	12,140
Operating income	151,383	184,781	258,403	313,108
Intercompany items	(23,967)	(16,943)	(43,815)	(24,378)
Interest income (expense), net	477	62	574	164
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	127,893	167,900	215,162	288,894
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	66,819	85,957	123,865	133,324
Equity in income of subsidiaries	106,652	113,919	196,610	171,482
Income from continuing operations		195,862		327,052
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		0		0
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	167,726	195,862	287,907	327,052
ASSETS
Current assets	1,070,719		1,070,719		1,145,051
Property, plant and equipment, net	387,048		387,048		378,274
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	810,093		810,093		818,435
Other assets	2,707,230		2,707,230		2,528,849
Total assets	4,975,090		4,975,090		4,870,609
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	601,821		601,821		704,191
Current liabilities of discontinued operations					46,693
Long-term obligations	991		991		1,212
Accrued pension costs	6,274		6,274		6,589
Other non-current liabilities	10,305		10,305		10,205
Total liabilities	619,391		619,391		768,890
Shareholders’ equity	4,355,699		4,355,699		4,101,719
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,975,090		4,975,090		4,870,609
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations			17,700	75,409
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations			0	(10,158)
Net cash provided by operating activities			17,700	65,251
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of controlling interest in International Mining Machinery, net of cash acquired				0
Withdrawal of cash held in escrow				0
Other investing activities, net				(65,591)
Net cash used by investing activities			(20,394)	(65,591)
Net cash used by financing activities			(209)	(199)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			0	0
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(2,903)	(539)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			6,628	16,152
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	3,725	15,613	3,725	15,613
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	898,483	1,023,405	1,776,004	1,775,349
Cost of sales	622,410	724,402	1,243,530	1,262,291
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	76,519	80,436	146,881	142,094
Other income (expense)	(7,115)	(9,375)	(17,996)	(38,916)
Operating income	206,669	227,942	403,589	409,880
Intercompany items	(26,876)	(21,378)	(62,533)	(54,131)
Interest income (expense), net	(5,307)	657	2,013	1,171
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	174,486	207,221	343,069	356,920
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	26,211	32,298	42,301	53,323
Equity in income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations		174,923		303,597
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		(33)		(142)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	148,275	174,890	300,768	303,455
ASSETS
Current assets	2,147,054		2,147,054		2,134,636
Property, plant and equipment, net	487,707		487,707		442,073
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,169,895		1,169,895		1,153,147
Other assets	1,991,845		1,991,845		1,803,046
Total assets	5,796,501		5,796,501		5,532,902
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	952,388		952,388		1,038,751
Current liabilities of discontinued operations					(33,546)
Long-term obligations	0		0		0
Accrued pension costs	6,942		6,942		6,914
Other non-current liabilities	175,641		175,641		154,255
Total liabilities	1,134,971		1,134,971		1,166,374
Shareholders’ equity	4,661,530		4,661,530		4,366,528
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	5,796,501		5,796,501		5,532,902
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations			48,785	81,760
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations			(2,372)	0
Net cash provided by operating activities			46,413	81,760
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of controlling interest in International Mining Machinery, net of cash acquired				72,912
Withdrawal of cash held in escrow				0
Other investing activities, net				(43,786)
Net cash used by investing activities			(61,612)	29,126
Net cash used by financing activities			(5,575)	(4,773)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(2,031)	(3,028)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(22,805)	103,085
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			253,786	171,988
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	230,981	275,073	230,981	275,073
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	(354,845)	(346,819)	(683,445)	(670,805)
Cost of sales	(292,034)	(283,197)	(550,648)	(537,659)
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense)	0	0	0	0
Operating income	(62,811)	(63,622)	(132,797)	(133,146)
Intercompany items	23,954	20,551	48,339	46,016
Interest income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(38,857)	(43,071)	(84,458)	(87,130)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Equity in income of subsidiaries	(277,144)	(327,714)	(504,217)	(543,519)
Income from continuing operations		(370,785)		(630,649)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		33		142
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(316,001)	(370,752)	(588,675)	(630,507)
ASSETS
Current assets	(198,777)		(198,777)		(221,053)
Property, plant and equipment, net	0		0		0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	(8,871,757)		(8,871,757)		(8,328,673)
Total assets	(9,070,534)		(9,070,534)		(8,549,726)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	(53,305)		(53,305)		(81,479)
Current liabilities of discontinued operations					0
Long-term obligations	0		0		0
Accrued pension costs	0		0		0
Other non-current liabilities	0		0		0
Total liabilities	(53,305)		(53,305)		(81,479)
Shareholders’ equity	(9,017,229)		(9,017,229)		(8,468,247)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	(9,070,534)		(9,070,534)		(8,549,726)
Consolidated
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	1,360,435	1,541,060	2,510,312	2,677,261
Cost of sales	909,179	1,030,689	1,682,328	1,803,465
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	172,953	182,033	330,234	353,389
Other income (expense)	(330)	(5,099)	(2,035)	(26,776)
Operating income	278,633	333,437	499,785	547,183
Intercompany items	0	0	0	0
Interest income (expense), net	(15,185)	(17,120)	(30,338)	(33,197)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	263,448	316,317	469,447	513,986
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	81,669	98,365	145,529	153,515
Equity in income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations		217,952		360,471
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		(33)		(142)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	181,779	217,919	323,918	360,329
ASSETS
Current assets	3,111,607		3,111,607		3,156,077
Property, plant and equipment, net	890,072		890,072		832,862
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,979,988		1,979,988		1,971,582
Other assets	206,835		206,835		181,982
Total assets	6,188,502		6,188,502		6,142,503
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	1,582,119		1,582,119		1,767,670
Current liabilities of discontinued operations					13,147
Long-term obligations	1,309,775		1,309,775		1,306,625
Accrued pension costs	254,432		254,432		335,813
Other non-current liabilities	165,163		165,163		142,059
Total liabilities	3,311,489		3,311,489		3,565,314
Shareholders’ equity	2,877,013		2,877,013		2,577,189
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	6,188,502		6,188,502		6,142,503
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations			93,275	96,447
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations			(2,372)	(10,158)
Net cash provided by operating activities			90,903	86,289
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of controlling interest in International Mining Machinery, net of cash acquired				(939,449)
Withdrawal of cash held in escrow				849,700
Other investing activities, net				(112,543)
Net cash used by investing activities			(84,884)	(202,292)
Net cash used by financing activities			(32,986)	221,687
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(2,031)	(3,028)
(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(28,998)	102,656
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			263,873	288,321
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 234,875	$ 390,977	$ 234,875	$ 390,977