Subsidiary Guarantors for Credit Agreement, Term Loan and 2021 Notes - Condensed Consolidated Statements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013	Oct. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 25, 2013	Oct. 26, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	$ 3,172,147	$ 3,778,310	$ 5,012,697
Cost of sales	2,333,225	2,654,233	3,399,568
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	616,673	608,886	656,148
Impairment charges	1,338,241	0	155,200
Other (income) and expense	(6,603)	(12,335)	(33,649)
Operating (loss) income	(1,109,389)	527,526	835,430
Loss on early debt retirement	(14,311)	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,177,129)	472,178	777,926
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	875	134,060	241,167
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,178,004)	338,118	536,759
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(1,318,796)	301,810	518,266
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	270,191	405,709	263,873	$ 102,885	$ 270,191	$ 405,709	$ 263,873
Accounts receivable, net				812,073	1,059,709
Inventories				1,007,925	1,101,955	1,133,820
Other current assets				145,559	180,151
Total current assets				2,068,442	2,612,006
Property, plant and equipment, net				792,032	892,440
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net				255,710	319,269
Goodwill				354,621	1,516,693	1,480,519
Deferred income taxes				118,913	71,897	44,399
Other non-current assets				122,728	180,044
Total other assets				851,972	2,087,903
Total assets				3,712,446	5,592,349	5,786,525
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations				26,321	11,739
Trade accounts payable				275,789	395,945
Employee compensation and benefits				90,335	136,911
Advance payments and progress billings				229,470	285,939
Accrued warranties				52,146	67,272	85,732
Other accrued liabilities				225,277	265,600
Current liabilities of discontinued operations				11,582	11,582
Total current liabilities				910,920	1,174,988
Long-term obligations				1,060,643	1,269,541
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits				19,540	19,609
Accrued pension costs				175,699	144,379
Other non-current liabilities				125,635	147,472
Total other liabilities				320,874	311,460
Shareholders’ equity				1,420,009	2,836,360	2,855,311	2,590,593
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity				3,712,446	5,592,349
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations	355,333	363,441	638,538
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations	0	(102)	(1,688)
Net cash provided by operating activities	355,333	363,339	636,850
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(114,353)	(44,426)	0
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(71,336)	(91,077)	(153,418)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	4,300	9,963	3,555
Other investing activities, net	(83)	53	(112)
Net cash used by investing activities	(181,472)	(125,487)	(149,975)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	4,654	13,346	7,575
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	261	1,632	1,728
Dividends paid	(77,950)	(74,945)	(74,325)
Redemption of 6% note due 2016	(250,000)	0	0
Repayments of Term Loan	0	(37,500)	(50,000)
Net borrowings under Credit Agreement	58,600	0	0
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	(10,521)	2,332	(7,374)
Treasury stock purchased	(50,000)	(269,336)	(214,106)
Financing fees	0	(2,826)	0
Net cash used by financing activities	(324,956)	(367,297)	(336,502)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(16,211)	(6,073)	(8,537)
(Decrease) increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(167,306)	(135,518)	141,836
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	270,191	405,709	263,873
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	102,885	270,191	405,709
Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	0	0	0
Cost of sales	0	700	(750)
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	47,604	60,942	50,443
Impairment charges	0		0
Other (income) and expense	68	(473)	(15,000)
Operating (loss) income	(47,672)	(61,169)	(34,693)
Intercompany items	66,408	64,185	114,784
Loss on early debt retirement	(14,311)
Interest (expense) income, net	(63,138)	(63,639)	(64,665)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(58,713)	(60,623)	15,426
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(3,807)	(46,296)	(42,174)
Equity in income of subsidiaries	(1,123,098)	352,445	479,159
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,178,004)	338,118	536,759
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(1,318,796)	301,810	518,266
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	54,874	122,901	3,459	581	54,874	122,901	3,459
Accounts receivable, net				0	0
Inventories				0	0
Other current assets				58,441	87,945
Total current assets				59,022	142,819
Property, plant and equipment, net				21,318	23,660
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net				0	0
Goodwill				0	0
Deferred income taxes				49,660	1,875
Other non-current assets				2,740,518	4,136,777
Total other assets				2,790,178	4,138,652
Total assets				2,870,518	4,305,131
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations				18,750	0
Trade accounts payable				3,342	3,134
Employee compensation and benefits				5,843	11,706
Advance payments and progress billings				0	0
Accrued warranties				0	0
Other accrued liabilities				76,650	94,097
Current liabilities of discontinued operations				0	0
Total current liabilities				104,585	108,937
Long-term obligations				1,060,598	1,269,459
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits				18,662	18,743
Accrued pension costs				159,594	132,947
Other non-current liabilities				81,595	(12,100)
Total other liabilities				259,851	139,590
Shareholders’ equity				1,445,484	2,787,145
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity				2,870,518	4,305,131
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations		306,292	457,171
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations		0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	261,293	306,292	457,171
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(945)	(4,706)	(8,489)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	942	0	0
Other investing activities, net	(1,148)	16	(112)
Net cash used by investing activities	(1,151)	(4,690)	(8,601)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	4,654	13,346	7,575
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	261	1,632	1,728
Dividends paid	(77,950)	(74,945)	(74,325)
Redemption of 6% note due 2016	(250,000)
Repayments of Term Loan		(37,500)	(50,000)
Net borrowings under Credit Agreement	58,600
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	0	0	0
Treasury stock purchased	(50,000)	(269,336)	(214,106)
Financing fees		(2,826)
Net cash used by financing activities	(314,435)	(369,629)	(329,128)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
(Decrease) increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(54,293)	(68,027)	119,442
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	54,874	122,901	3,459
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	581	54,874	122,901
Supplemental Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	1,801,405	2,127,333	2,745,565
Cost of sales	1,339,541	1,542,011	1,925,605
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	192,956	236,233	294,952
Impairment charges	160,988		100,400
Other (income) and expense	17,534	12,667	34,101
Operating (loss) income	90,386	336,422	390,507
Intercompany items	(107,484)	(77,048)	(79,519)
Loss on early debt retirement	0
Interest (expense) income, net	6,769	6,750	3,225
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(10,329)	266,124	314,213
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	17,886	155,459	207,602
Equity in income of subsidiaries	(39,946)	165,942	397,610
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(68,161)	276,607	504,221
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(69,263)	281,569	505,329
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	16,429	20,361	6,628	2,008	16,429	20,361	6,628
Accounts receivable, net				214,381	400,456
Inventories				508,774	467,602
Other current assets				15,610	9,520
Total current assets				740,773	894,007
Property, plant and equipment, net				297,476	346,761
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net				207,891	228,950
Goodwill				346,348	453,374
Deferred income taxes				0	0
Other non-current assets				2,078,294	2,139,776
Total other assets				2,632,533	2,822,100
Total assets				3,670,782	4,062,868
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations				0	11,634
Trade accounts payable				96,891	215,235
Employee compensation and benefits				36,527	58,307
Advance payments and progress billings				100,312	117,768
Accrued warranties				19,027	17,002
Other accrued liabilities				60,228	54,523
Current liabilities of discontinued operations				11,582	11,582
Total current liabilities				324,567	486,051
Long-term obligations				0	0
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits				878	866
Accrued pension costs				8,406	7,030
Other non-current liabilities				8,325	7,772
Total other liabilities				17,609	15,668
Shareholders’ equity				3,328,606	3,561,149
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity				3,670,782	4,062,868
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations		3,418	58,565
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations		(102)	(1,688)
Net cash provided by operating activities	16,105	3,316	56,877
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(19,108)	(23,130)	(43,830)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	216	6,512	1,111
Other investing activities, net	0	(1,052)	0
Net cash used by investing activities	(18,892)	(17,670)	(42,719)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	0	0	0
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Redemption of 6% note due 2016	0
Repayments of Term Loan		0	0
Net borrowings under Credit Agreement	0
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	(11,634)	10,422	(425)
Treasury stock purchased	0	0	0
Financing fees		0
Net cash used by financing activities	(11,634)	10,422	(425)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0
(Decrease) increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(14,421)	(3,932)	13,733
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	16,429	20,361	6,628
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	2,008	16,429	20,361
Supplemental Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	2,330,469	2,568,580	3,702,376
Cost of sales	1,732,574	1,876,783	2,659,977
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	376,087	311,711	310,753
Impairment charges	1,177,253		54,800
Other (income) and expense	(24,205)	(24,529)	(52,750)
Operating (loss) income	(931,240)	404,615	729,596
Intercompany items	48,415	(29,099)	(151,571)
Loss on early debt retirement	0
Interest (expense) income, net	2,940	1,541	3,936
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(879,885)	377,057	581,961
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(13,204)	24,897	75,739
Equity in income of subsidiaries	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(866,681)	352,160	506,222
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(1,019,963)	311,369	486,689
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	198,888	262,447	253,786	100,296	198,888	262,447	253,786
Accounts receivable, net				597,826	675,515
Inventories				607,461	750,161
Other current assets				71,508	82,671
Total current assets				1,377,091	1,707,235
Property, plant and equipment, net				478,253	525,642
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net				47,819	90,319
Goodwill				8,273	1,063,319
Deferred income taxes				69,253	70,022
Other non-current assets				2,517,110	2,662,560
Total other assets				2,642,455	3,886,220
Total assets				4,497,799	6,119,097
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations				7,571	105
Trade accounts payable				175,556	177,576
Employee compensation and benefits				47,965	66,898
Advance payments and progress billings				149,795	193,165
Accrued warranties				33,119	50,270
Other accrued liabilities				100,660	124,244
Current liabilities of discontinued operations				0	0
Total current liabilities				514,666	612,258
Long-term obligations				45	82
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits				0	0
Accrued pension costs				7,699	4,402
Other non-current liabilities				35,715	151,800
Total other liabilities				43,414	156,202
Shareholders’ equity				3,939,674	5,350,555
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity				4,497,799	6,119,097
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations		53,731	122,802
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations		0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	77,935	53,731	122,802
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(114,353)	(44,426)
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(51,283)	(63,241)	(101,099)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	3,142	3,451	2,444
Other investing activities, net	1,065	1,089	0
Net cash used by investing activities	(161,429)	(103,127)	(98,655)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	0	0	0
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	0	0
Dividends paid	0	0	0
Redemption of 6% note due 2016	0
Repayments of Term Loan		0	0
Net borrowings under Credit Agreement	0
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	1,113	(8,090)	(6,949)
Treasury stock purchased	0	0	0
Financing fees		0
Net cash used by financing activities	1,113	(8,090)	(6,949)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(16,211)	(6,073)	(8,537)
(Decrease) increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(98,592)	(63,559)	8,661
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	198,888	262,447	253,786
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	100,296	198,888	262,447
Eliminations Supplemental Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	(959,727)	(917,603)	(1,435,244)
Cost of sales	(738,890)	(765,261)	(1,185,264)
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	26	0	0
Impairment charges	0		0
Other (income) and expense	0	0	0
Operating (loss) income	(220,863)	(152,342)	(249,980)
Intercompany items	(7,339)	41,962	116,306
Loss on early debt retirement	0
Interest (expense) income, net	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(228,202)	(110,380)	(133,674)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0	0
Equity in income of subsidiaries	1,163,044	(518,387)	(876,769)
(Loss) income from continuing operations	934,842	(628,767)	(1,010,443)
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	1,089,226	(592,938)	(992,018)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0		0	0
Accounts receivable, net				(134)	(16,262)
Inventories				(108,310)	(115,808)
Other current assets				0	15
Total current assets				(108,444)	(132,055)
Property, plant and equipment, net				(5,015)	(3,623)
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net				0	0
Goodwill				0	0
Deferred income taxes				0	0
Other non-current assets				(7,213,194)	(8,759,069)
Total other assets				(7,213,194)	(8,759,069)
Total assets				(7,326,653)	(8,894,747)
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations				0	0
Trade accounts payable				0	0
Employee compensation and benefits				0	0
Advance payments and progress billings				(20,637)	(24,994)
Accrued warranties				0	0
Other accrued liabilities				(12,261)	(7,264)
Current liabilities of discontinued operations				0	0
Total current liabilities				(32,898)	(32,258)
Long-term obligations				0	0
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits				0	0
Accrued pension costs				0	0
Other non-current liabilities				0	0
Total other liabilities				0	0
Shareholders’ equity				(7,293,755)	(8,862,489)
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity				(7,326,653)	(8,894,747)
Financing Activities:
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	0	0
Consolidated
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income
Net sales	3,172,147	3,778,310	5,012,697
Cost of sales	2,333,225	2,654,233	3,399,568
Product development, selling and administrative expenses	616,673	608,886	656,148
Impairment charges	1,338,241		155,200
Other (income) and expense	(6,603)	(12,335)	(33,649)
Operating (loss) income	(1,109,389)	527,526	835,430
Intercompany items	0	0	0
Loss on early debt retirement	(14,311)
Interest (expense) income, net	(53,429)	(55,348)	(57,504)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,177,129)	472,178	777,926
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	875	134,060	241,167
Equity in income of subsidiaries	0	0	0
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,178,004)	338,118	536,759
Comprehensive income attributable to Joy Global Inc.	(1,318,796)	301,810	518,266
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	270,191	405,709	263,873	102,885	270,191	$ 405,709	$ 263,873
Accounts receivable, net				812,073	1,059,709
Inventories				1,007,925	1,101,955
Other current assets				145,559	180,151
Total current assets				2,068,442	2,612,006
Property, plant and equipment, net				792,032	892,440
Other assets:
Other intangible assets, net				255,710	319,269
Goodwill				354,621	1,516,693
Deferred income taxes				118,913	71,897
Other non-current assets				122,728	180,044
Total other assets				851,972	2,087,903
Total assets				3,712,446	5,592,349
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term obligations				26,321	11,739
Trade accounts payable				275,789	395,945
Employee compensation and benefits				90,335	136,911
Advance payments and progress billings				229,470	285,939
Accrued warranties				52,146	67,272
Other accrued liabilities				225,277	265,600
Current liabilities of discontinued operations				11,582	11,582
Total current liabilities				910,920	1,174,988
Long-term obligations				1,060,643	1,269,541
Other liabilities:
Liabilities for postretirement benefits				19,540	19,609
Accrued pension costs				175,699	144,379
Other non-current liabilities				125,635	147,472
Total other liabilities				320,874	311,460
Shareholders’ equity				1,420,009	2,836,360
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity				$ 3,712,446	$ 5,592,349
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of continuing operations		363,441	638,538
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities of discontinued operations		(102)	(1,688)
Net cash provided by operating activities	355,333	363,339	636,850
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(114,353)	(44,426)
Property, plant and equipment acquired	(71,336)	(91,077)	(153,418)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	4,300	9,963	3,555
Other investing activities, net	(83)	53	(112)
Net cash used by investing activities	(181,472)	(125,487)	(149,975)
Financing Activities:
Common stock issued	4,654	13,346	7,575
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options	261	1,632	1,728
Dividends paid	(77,950)	(74,945)	(74,325)
Redemption of 6% note due 2016	(250,000)
Repayments of Term Loan		(37,500)	(50,000)
Net borrowings under Credit Agreement	58,600
Change in short and other long-term obligations, net	(10,521)	2,332	(7,374)
Treasury stock purchased	(50,000)	(269,336)	(214,106)
Financing fees		(2,826)
Net cash used by financing activities	(324,956)	(367,297)	(336,502)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(16,211)	(6,073)	(8,537)
(Decrease) increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(167,306)	(135,518)	141,836
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	270,191	405,709	263,873
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	$ 102,885	$ 270,191	$ 405,709