Condensed consolidating guarantor and non-guarantor financial information (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 488	$ 539	$ 399	$ 585
Marketable securities	439	718
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	155	327
Finance and other receivables, net	3,594	4,254
Inventories	1,916	1,714
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	61	60
Property and equipment, net	1,671	1,570
Goodwill	312	319
Deferred taxes, net	2,114	2,057
Other	753	733
Total Assets	11,503	12,291
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Debt	4,533	4,856
Postretirement benefits liabilities	3,283	3,316
Amounts due to (from) affiliates	0	0
Other liabilities	3,877	4,091
Total Liabilities	11,693	12,263
Redeemable equity securities	5	5
Stockholders' equity attributable to non-controlling interests	41	50
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(236)	(27)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	11,503	12,291
NIC [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	151	226	158	239
Marketable securities	181	429
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	19	20
Finance and other receivables, net	4	3
Inventories	0	0
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	(2,313)	(2,094)
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred taxes, net	92	31
Other	142	168
Total Assets	(1,724)	(1,217)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Debt	1,598	1,689
Postretirement benefits liabilities	0	0
Amounts due to (from) affiliates	(5,795)	(5,574)
Other liabilities	2,704	2,690
Total Liabilities	(1,493)	(1,195)
Redeemable equity securities	5	5
Stockholders' equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(236)	(27)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	(1,724)	(1,217)
Navistar, Inc. [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	52	13	32	22
Marketable securities	0	1
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	10	9
Finance and other receivables, net	158	154
Inventories	716	650
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	6,004	5,818
Property and equipment, net	693	600
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred taxes, net	1,900	1,912
Other	160	152
Total Assets	9,693	9,309
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Debt	295	156
Postretirement benefits liabilities	2,956	2,981
Amounts due to (from) affiliates	9,517	9,055
Other liabilities	(254)	(194)
Total Liabilities	12,514	11,998
Redeemable equity securities	0	0
Stockholders' equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(2,821)	(2,689)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	9,693	9,309
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	285	300	209	324
Marketable securities	258	288
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	126	298
Finance and other receivables, net	3,440	4,070
Inventories	1,244	1,113
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	54	54
Property and equipment, net	980	972
Goodwill	312	319
Deferred taxes, net	122	114
Other	455	416
Total Assets	7,276	7,944
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Debt	2,873	3,242
Postretirement benefits liabilities	327	335
Amounts due to (from) affiliates	(3,799)	(3,595)
Other liabilities	1,523	1,717
Total Liabilities	924	1,699
Redeemable equity securities	0	0
Stockholders' equity attributable to non-controlling interests	45	52
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	6,307	6,193
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	7,276	7,944
Eliminations and Other [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Marketable securities	0	0
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Finance and other receivables, net	(8)	27
Inventories	(44)	(49)
Investments in non-consolidated affiliates	(3,684)	(3,718)
Property and equipment, net	(2)	(2)
Goodwill	0	0
Deferred taxes, net	0	0
Other	(4)	(3)
Total Assets	(3,742)	(3,745)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Debt	(233)	(231)
Postretirement benefits liabilities	0	0
Amounts due to (from) affiliates	77	114
Other liabilities	(96)	(122)
Total Liabilities	(252)	(239)
Redeemable equity securities	0	0
Stockholders' equity attributable to non-controlling interests	(4)	(2)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(3,486)	(3,504)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	$ (3,742)	$ (3,745)