Supplemental 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	(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 debt	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	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 debt	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	811,365	837,708	1,412,321	1,545,951
Cost of sales	572,800	570,244	983,443	1,059,593
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	79,342	82,216	153,459	164,919
Other income	6,730	4,395	15,906	12,259
Operating income	152,493	180,853	259,513	309,180
Intercompany items	(23,967)	(16,943)	(43,815)	(24,378)
Interest income (expense), net	447	69	544	171
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	128,973	163,979	216,242	284,973
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	67,608	85,957	124,654	133,324
Equity in income of subsidiaries	106,652	117,840	196,610	175,403
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.	168,017	195,862	288,198	327,052
ASSETS
Current assets	1,058,405		1,058,405		1,129,867
Property, plant and equipment, net	385,046		385,046		374,324
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	810,093		810,093		818,435
Other assets	2,710,655		2,710,655		2,517,019
Total assets	4,964,199		4,964,199		4,839,645
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	600,827		600,827		701,676
Current liabilities of discontinued operations					46,693
Long-term debt	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	618,397		618,397		766,375
Shareholders’ equity	4,345,802		4,345,802		4,073,270
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	4,964,199		4,964,199		4,839,645
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations			22,991	72,552
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations			(2,372)	(10,158)
Net cash provided by operating activities			20,619	62,394
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				(65,757)
Net cash used by investing activities			(23,313)	(65,757)
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)	(3,562)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			6,628	16,152
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	3,725	12,590	3,725	12,590
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	903,915	1,050,171	1,781,436	1,802,115
Cost of sales	628,413	743,642	1,249,533	1,281,531
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	77,003	84,153	147,365	145,811
Other income	(7,060)	(9,494)	(17,941)	(39,035)
Operating income	205,559	231,870	402,479	413,808
Intercompany items	(26,876)	(21,378)	(62,533)	(54,131)
Interest income (expense), net	(5,277)	650	2,043	1,164
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	173,406	211,142	341,989	360,841
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	25,422	32,298	41,512	53,323
Equity in income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations		178,844		307,518
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		(33)		(142)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	147,984	178,811	300,477	307,376
ASSETS
Current assets	2,159,368		2,159,368		2,149,820
Property, plant and equipment, net	489,709		489,709		446,023
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,169,895		1,169,895		1,153,147
Other assets	1,988,420		1,988,420		1,814,876
Total assets	5,807,392		5,807,392		5,563,866
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities	953,382		953,382		1,041,266
Current liabilities of discontinued operations					(33,546)
Long-term debt	0		0		0
Accrued pension costs	6,942		6,942		6,914
Other non-current liabilities	175,641		175,641		154,255
Total liabilities	1,135,965		1,135,965		1,168,889
Shareholders’ equity	4,671,427		4,671,427		4,394,977
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	5,807,392		5,807,392		5,563,866
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations			43,494	84,617
Net cash used by operating activities of discontinued operations			0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities			43,494	84,617
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				(43,620)
Net cash used by investing activities			(58,693)	29,292
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)	106,108
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period			253,786	171,988
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	230,981	278,096	230,981	278,096
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	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)	(331,635)	(504,217)	(547,440)
Income from continuing operations		(374,706)		(634,570)
Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interest		33		142
Income from continuing operations attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(316,001)	(374,673)	(588,675)	(634,428)
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 debt	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	(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 debt	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