Condensed Consolidating Guarantor and Non-Guarantor - Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Sales and revenues, net	$ 2,526	$ 3,261	$ 5,163	$ 6,270
Costs of products sold	2,363	2,900	4,649	5,550
Restructuring charges	6	19	8	19
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets		10		10
All other operating expenses (income)	483	579	915	1,138
Total Costs and Expenses	2,852	3,508	5,572	6,717
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	4	(4)	3	(11)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(322)	(251)	(406)	(458)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(22)	123	(37)	199
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(344)	(128)	(443)	(259)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(21)	(34)	(30)	(43)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(365)	(162)	(473)	(302)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	9	10	24	23
Net income (loss) Attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(374)	(172)	(497)	(325)
Parent Company [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net	0	0	0	0
Costs of products sold	0	0	0	0
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets		0		0
All other operating expenses (income)	(48)	14	(27)	39
Total Costs and Expenses	(48)	14	(27)	39
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	(422)	(96)	(524)	(296)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(374)	(110)	(497)	(335)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	(62)	0	10
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(374)	(172)	(497)	(325)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(374)	(172)	(497)	(325)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) Attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(374)	(172)	(497)	(325)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net	1,493	2,172	3,102	4,134
Costs of products sold	1,622	2,205	3,217	4,200
Restructuring charges	4	19	4	19
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets		0		0
All other operating expenses (income)	349	357	580	691
Total Costs and Expenses	1,975	2,581	3,801	4,910
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	50	271	104	366
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(432)	(138)	(595)	(410)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1)	(63)	(12)	14
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(433)	(201)	(607)	(396)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(433)	(201)	(607)	(396)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) Attributable to Navistar International Corporation	(433)	(201)	(607)	(396)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net	2,293	2,974	4,551	5,755
Costs of products sold	1,987	2,555	3,896	4,931
Restructuring charges	2	0	4	0
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets		10		10
All other operating expenses (income)	125	233	317	459
Total Costs and Expenses	2,114	2,798	4,217	5,400
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	1	(6)	(1)	(13)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	180	170	333	342
Income tax benefit (expense)	(21)	211	(25)	172
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	159	381	308	514
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(21)	(34)	(30)	(43)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	138	347	278	471
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	9	10	24	23
Net income (loss) Attributable to Navistar International Corporation	129	337	254	448
Consolidation, Eliminations [Domain]
Sales and revenues, net	(1,260)	(1,885)	(2,490)	(3,619)
Costs of products sold	(1,246)	(1,860)	(2,464)	(3,581)
Restructuring charges	0	0	0	0
Impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets		0		0
All other operating expenses (income)	57	(25)	45	(51)
Total Costs and Expenses	(1,189)	(1,885)	(2,419)	(3,632)
Equity in loss of non-consolidated affiliates	375	(173)	424	(68)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	304	(173)	353	(55)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	37	0	3
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	304	(136)	353	(52)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	304	(136)	353	(52)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) Attributable to Navistar International Corporation	$ 304	$ (136)	$ 353	$ (52)