Condensed consolidating guarantor and non-guarantor financial information (Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	$ 3,298	$ 3,355	$ 6,350	$ 6,098
Cost of products sold	2,944	2,701	5,642	4,900
Restructuring charges (benefit)	20	2	20	24
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	38		38
All other operating expenses (income)	587	543	1,155	1,042
Total Costs and Expenses	3,589	3,246	6,855	5,966
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(4)	(16)	(11)	(33)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(295)	93	(516)	99
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	133	(5)	214	(5)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(162)	88	(302)	94
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	10	14	23	26
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(172)	74	(325)	68
NIC [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	0	0	0	0
Cost of products sold	0	17	0	0
Restructuring charges (benefit)	0		0	0
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	0		0
All other operating expenses (income)	14	17	39	41
Total Costs and Expenses	14	34	39	41
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(96)	120	(296)	120
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(110)	86	(335)	79
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(62)	(12)	10	(11)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(172)	74	(325)	68
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(172)	74	(325)	68
Navistar, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	2,172	2,144	4,134	3,831
Cost of products sold	2,205	1,987	4,200	3,553
Restructuring charges (benefit)	19		20	23
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	0		0
All other operating expenses (income)	357	338	690	613
Total Costs and Expenses	2,581	2,327	4,910	4,189
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	271	219	366	344
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(138)	36	(410)	(14)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(63)	(5)	14	1
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(201)	31	(396)	(13)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(201)	31	(396)	(13)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	3,011	3,238	5,835	5,819
Cost of products sold	2,599	2,681	5,023	4,846
Restructuring charges (benefit)	1		0	1
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	38		38
All other operating expenses (income)	241	217	477	441
Total Costs and Expenses	2,879	2,898	5,538	5,288
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(6)	(10)	(13)	(20)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	126	330	284	511
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	221	(36)	187	(52)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	347	294	471	459
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	10	14	23	26
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	337	280	448	433
Eliminations and Other [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales and revenues, net	(1,885)	(2,027)	(3,619)	(3,552)
Cost of products sold	(1,860)	(1,984)	(3,581)	(3,499)
Restructuring charges (benefit)	0		0	0
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	0		0
All other operating expenses (income)	(25)	(29)	(51)	(53)
Total Costs and Expenses	(1,885)	(2,013)	(3,632)	(3,552)
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(173)	(345)	(68)	(477)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(173)	(359)	(55)	(477)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	37	48	3	57
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(136)	(311)	(52)	(420)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ (136)	$ (311)	$ (52)	$ (420)