Condensed Consolidating Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information - Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014		Jul. 31, 2014		Apr. 30, 2014		Jan. 31, 2014		Oct. 31, 2013		Jul. 31, 2013		Apr. 30, 2013		Jan. 31, 2013		Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Sales and revenues, net	$ 3,008		$ 2,844		$ 2,746		$ 2,208		$ 2,751		$ 2,861		$ 2,526		$ 2,637		$ 10,806	$ 10,775	$ 12,695
Costs of products sold																	9,534	9,761	11,401
Restructuring charges																	42	25	107
Asset impairment charges																	183	97	16
All other operating expenses (income)																	1,612	1,877	2,253
Total costs and expenses																	11,371	11,760	13,777
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates																	9	11	(29)
Income (loss) before income taxes																	(556)	(974)	(1,111)
Income tax expense																	(26)	171	(1,780)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(72)	[1]	(3)	[1]	(298)	[1]	(249)	[1]	(153)	[1]	(237)	[1]	(353)	[1]	(114)	[1]	(582)	(803)	(2,891)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0		1		1		1		(1)		(10)		(21)		(9)		3	(41)	(71)
Net income (loss)	(72)		(2)		(297)		(248)		(154)		(247)		(374)		(123)		(579)	(844)	(2,962)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests																	40	54	48
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation																	(619)	(898)	(3,010)
Parent Company [Member]
Sales and revenues, net																	0	0	0
Costs of products sold																	0	0	0
Restructuring charges																	0	0	0
Asset impairment charges																	0	0	0
All other operating expenses (income)																	(48)	(208)	(249)
Total costs and expenses																	(48)	(208)	(249)
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates																	(680)	(1,108)	(3,258)
Income (loss) before income taxes																	(632)	(900)	(3,009)
Income tax expense																	13	2	(1)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations																	(619)	(898)	(3,010)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax																	0	0	0
Net income (loss)																	(619)	(898)	(3,010)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests																	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation																	(619)	(898)	(3,010)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Sales and revenues, net																	7,269	6,426	7,924
Costs of products sold																	6,794	6,629	8,188
Restructuring charges																	8	15	86
Asset impairment charges																	16	81	2
All other operating expenses (income)																	1,003	1,180	1,297
Total costs and expenses																	7,821	7,905	9,573
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates																	(169)	161	536
Income (loss) before income taxes																	(721)	(1,318)	(1,113)
Income tax expense																	25	244	(1,987)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations																	(696)	(1,074)	(3,100)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax																	0	0	0
Net income (loss)																	(696)	(1,074)	(3,100)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests																	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation																	(696)	(1,074)	(3,100)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Sales and revenues, net																	8,196	8,979	11,413
Costs of products sold																	7,337	7,720	9,798
Restructuring charges																	34	10	21
Asset impairment charges																	167	16	14
All other operating expenses (income)																	541	659	968
Total costs and expenses																	8,079	8,405	10,801
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates																	5	4	(34)
Income (loss) before income taxes																	122	578	578
Income tax expense																	(64)	(75)	209
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations																	58	503	787
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax																	3	(41)	(71)
Net income (loss)																	61	462	716
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests																	40	54	48
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation																	21	408	668
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Sales and revenues, net																	(4,659)	(4,630)	(6,642)
Costs of products sold																	(4,597)	(4,588)	(6,585)
Restructuring charges																	0	0	0
Asset impairment charges																	0	0	0
All other operating expenses (income)																	116	246	237
Total costs and expenses																	(4,481)	(4,342)	(6,348)
Equity in income (loss) of non-consolidated affiliates																	853	954	2,727
Income (loss) before income taxes																	675	666	2,433
Income tax expense																	0	0	(1)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations																	675	666	2,432
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax																	0	0	0
Net income (loss)																	675	666	2,432
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests																	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation																	$ 675	$ 666	$ 2,432

[1] In the second quarter of 2014, the company recognized a non-cash charge of $149 million for the impairment of certain intangible assets of our Brazilian engine reporting unit. Due to the economic downturn in Brazil which resulted in a continued decline in actual and forecasted results, we tested the goodwill of our Brazilian engine reporting unit and trademark for potential impairment. As a result, we determined that the entire $142 million balance of goodwill and $7 million of trademark were impaired. In the fourth quarter of 2013, our North America Truck segment recorded a non-cash charge of $77 million to reflect impairment of goodwill as a result of changes in our organizational and reporting structures, which resulted in a change in certain of our reporting units. The impairment charges were included in Asset impairment charges. Also in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company met the criteria necessary to apply the exception within the intraperiod tax allocation rules. As a result, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $220 million, which was recorded in Income tax benefit (expense) related to continuing operations.