Condensed consolidating guarantor and non-guarantor financial information (Comprehensive Income) (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
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	$ 12	$ 0	$ 24	$ 0
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(172)	74	(325)	68
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(65)	46	(78)	61
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	17	16	40	79
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(48)	62	(38)	140
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(220)	136	(363)	208
NIC [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	12	0	24	0
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(172)	74	(325)	68
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(65)	46	(78)	61
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	17	16	40	79
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(48)	62	(38)	140
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(220)	136	(363)	208
Navistar, Inc. [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	12	0	23	0
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(201)	31	(396)	(13)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	16	12	36	70
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	16	12	36	70
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(185)	43	(360)	57
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	0	0	1	0
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	337	280	448	433
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(65)	46	(78)	61
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	2	4	5	(15)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(63)	50	(73)	46
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	274	330	375	479
Eliminations and Other [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	(12)	0	(24)	0
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(136)	(311)	(52)	(420)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	65	(46)	78	(61)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	(18)	(16)	(41)	(55)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	47	(62)	37	(116)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$ (89)	$ (373)	$ (15)	$ (536)