SEGMENT INFORMATION Segment Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Oct. 31, 2017 |
Oct. 31, 2016 |
Oct. 31, 2015 |
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
| Total reportable segments' assets | $ 5,010 | $ 4,729 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2,678 | 2,289 | |
| Prepaid expenses | 92 | 92 | |
| Investments | 138 | 135 | |
| Long term and other receivables | 105 | 92 | |
| Other | 403 | 457 | |
| Total assets | 8,426 | 7,794 | |
| Capital expenditures | 176 | 139 | $ 98 |
| Life Sciences and Applied Markets | |||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
| Total reportable segments' assets | 1,753 | 1,687 | |
| Capital expenditures | 39 | 53 | |
| Diagnostics and Genomics | |||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
| Total reportable segments' assets | 2,119 | 1,960 | |
| Capital expenditures | 111 | 41 | |
| Agilent CrossLab | |||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
| Total reportable segments' assets | 1,138 | 1,082 | |
| Capital expenditures | 26 | 45 | |
| Segment Total [Member] | |||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
| Total reportable segments' assets | 5,010 | 4,729 | |
| Capital expenditures | $ 176 | $ 139 | |