Loss Per Share Attributable to Navistar International Corporation - Narrative (Details) - Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Type [Domain]	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2009 $ / shares	Jul. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Jan. 31, 2015 shares	Jul. 31, 2014 shares	Apr. 30, 2014 shares	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Jul. 31, 2014 shares	Apr. 30, 2015 shares
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares of Warrants Unwound			1,939,376		6,523,319
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		15,000,000		23,800,000		16,000,000	26,200,000
Shares related to warrants				4,800,000			7,000,000
Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares of Warrants Unwound			1,939,376		6,523,319
Class of Warrant or Right, Outstanding								2,900,000
Shares related to convertible notes				3,300,000			6,000,000
Three Point Zero Percent Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] | Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio						19.891
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Ratio Basis | $						$ 1,000
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares	$ 50.27
Investment Warrants, Exercise Price | $ / shares						$ 60.14
Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares related to convertible notes		3,400,000		3,400,000		3,400,000	3,400,000
Four Point Five Zero Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] | Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio						17.1233
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Ratio Basis | $						$ 1,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price | $ / shares		$ 58.40				$ 58.40
Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio						18.4946
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares						$ 54.07
Shares related to convertible notes		7,600,000		7,600,000		7,600,000	5,100,000
Four Point Seven Five Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes [Member] [Member] | Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Ratio Basis | $						$ 1,000