Condensed consolidating guarantor and non-guarantor financial information (Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	$ 3,052	$ 2,743
Cost of products sold	2,698	2,199
Restructuring charges (benefit)	0	22
All other operating expenses (income)	568	499
Total costs and expenses	3,266	2,720
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	(7)	(17)
Income (Loss) before income taxes	(221)	6
Income tax benefit (expense)	81	0
Net Income (loss)	(140)	6
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	13	12
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(153)	(6)
NIC [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	0	0
Cost of products sold	0	(17)
All other operating expenses (income)	26	23
Total costs and expenses	26	6
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	(200)	0
Income (Loss) before income taxes	(226)	(6)
Income tax benefit (expense)	73	0
Net Income (loss)	(153)	(6)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(153)	(6)
Navistar, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	1,962	1,687
Cost of products sold	1,994	1,566
All other operating expenses (income)	335	274
Total costs and expenses	2,329	1,861
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	96	122
Income (Loss) before income taxes	(271)	(52)
Income tax benefit (expense)	76	6
Net Income (loss)	(195)	(46)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(195)	(46)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	2,824	2,581
Cost of products sold	2,424	2,165
All other operating expenses (income)	234	225
Total costs and expenses	2,658	2,391
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	(8)	(10)
Income (Loss) before income taxes	158	180
Income tax benefit (expense)	(34)	(16)
Net Income (loss)	124	164
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	13	12
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	111	152
Eliminations and Other [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	(1,734)	(1,525)
Cost of products sold	(1,720)	(1,515)
All other operating expenses (income)	(27)	(23)
Total costs and expenses	(1,747)	(1,538)
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	105	(129)
Income (Loss) before income taxes	118	(116)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(34)	10
Net Income (loss)	84	(106)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ 84	$ (106)