Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Navistar International Corporation - Basic & Diluted Loss per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 188								$ 340	$ 29	$ (97)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0								0	1	0
Net loss attributable to Navistar International Corporation									$ 340	$ 30	$ (97)
Basic (in shares)									98.9	93.0	81.7
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment									0.7	0.5	0.0
Diluted (in shares)									99.6	93.5	81.7
Basic: Loss from Continuing Operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.90	$ 1.72	$ 0.56	$ (0.74)	$ 1.37	$ 0.37	$ (0.86)	$ (0.76)	$ 3.44	$ 0.31	$ (1.19)
Basic: Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00
Basic (in dollars per share)	1.90	1.72	0.56	(0.74)	1.37	0.38	(0.86)	(0.76)	3.44	0.32	(1.19)
Diluted: Loss from Continuing Operations (in dollars per share)	1.89	1.71	0.55	(0.74)	1.36	0.37	(0.86)	(0.76)	3.41	0.31	(1.19)
Diluted: Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.00
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.89	$ 1.71	$ 0.55	$ (0.74)	$ 1.36	$ 0.38	$ (0.86)	$ (0.76)	$ 3.41	$ 0.32	$ (1.19)