Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2017	Feb. 24, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	JOY GLOBAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000801898
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jan. 27, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-27
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		99,620,355