Share capital and share-based compensation - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Details)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Aug. 10, 2021
shares
$ / shares
Jun. 24, 2021
shares
Oct. 31, 2021
shares
$ / shares
Aug. 10, 2021
shares
$ / shares
Oct. 31, 2021
shares
$ / shares
Oct. 31, 2020
shares
$ / shares
Oct. 31, 2019
shares
$ / shares
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]              
Number of stock options, beginning balance (in shares)     4,242,707        
Granted (in shares)     1,053,846        
Exercised (in shares)   (25,664)     (2,172,820) 0  
Number of stock options, ending balance (in shares) 4,242,707   5,296,553 4,242,707 5,296,553    
Weighted average exercise price per stock option, beginning of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 0.79        
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     10.93        
Weighted average exercise price per stock option, end of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.79   $ 2.81 $ 0.79 $ 2.81    
Li-Cycle Corp.              
Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items]              
Number of stock options, beginning balance (in shares)     106,307 133,500 133,500 100,000 58,320
Granted (in shares)       31,750   33,500 41,680
Exercised (in shares) (28,779)     (54,443)      
Forfeited (in shares)       (4,500)      
Number of stock options, ending balance (in shares) 106,307     106,307   133,500 100,000
Weighted average exercise price per stock option, beginning of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 31.62 $ 15.35 $ 15.35 $ 7.14 $ 2.49
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares       85.30   39.66 13.57
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares       24.58      
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares       42.43      
Weighted average exercise price per stock option, end of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 31.62     $ 31.62   $ 15.35 $ 7.14