|
Share-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Apr. 30, 2011
|
Apr. 30, 2010
|
Apr. 30, 2011
|
Apr. 30, 2010
|
|
| Share-based Compensation [Abstract] | Â | Â | Â | Â |
| Cost of products and services | $ 3 | $ 2 | $ 10 | $ 8 |
| Research and development | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Selling, general and administrative | 11 | 9 | 28 | 24 |
| Total share-based compensation expense | 16 | 13 | 44 | 38 |
| Reversed expense for the cancellation of non-vested awards | Â | $ 3 | Â | Â |
| Stock Option Plans [Abstract] | Â | Â | Â | Â |
| Weighted average risk-free interest rate (in hundredths) | 0.00% | 2.40% | 1.50% | 2.20% |
| Dividend yield (in hundredths) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Weighted average volatility (in hundredths) | 0.00% | 36.00% | 35.00% | 37.00% |
| Expected life (in years) | 4.4 | 5.8 | 4.4 | |
| LTPP [Abstract] | Â | Â | Â | Â |
| Volatility of Agilent shares (in hundredths) | 40.00% | 39.00% | 40.00% | 39.00% |
| Volatility of selected peer-company shares minimum range (in hundredths) | 20.00% | 21.00% | 20.00% | 20.00% |
| Volatility of selected peer-company shares maximum range (in hundredths) | 76.00% | 79.00% | 76.00% | 80.00% |
| Price-wise correlation with selected peers (in hundredths) | 55.00% | 53.00% | 55.00% | 53.00% |
| The ESPP plan purchase price (in hundredths) | 85.00% | Â | Â | Â |
| The ESPP plan description | The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock at 85 percent of the purchase price and uses the purchase date to establish the fair market value. | Â | Â | Â |
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used | The fair value of share-based awards for employee stock option awards was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Shares granted under the LTPP were valued using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Both the Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo simulation fair value models require the use of highly subjective and complex assumptions, including the option's expected life and the price volatility of the underlying stock. The estimated fair value of restricted stock unit awards is determined based on the market price of Agilent's common stock on the date of grant. The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock at 85 percent of the purchase price and uses the purchase date to establish the fair market value. We use historical volatility to estimate the expected stock price volatility assumption for employee stock option awards. In reaching the conclusion, we have considered many factors including the extent to which our options are currently traded and our ability to find traded options in the current market with similar terms and prices to the options we are valuing. For the grants awarded under the 2009 stock plan after November 1, 2010, we increased the period available to retirement eligible employees to exercise their options from three years at retirement date to the full contractual term of ten years. In developing our estimated life of our employee stock options of 5.8 years, we considered the historical option exercise behavior of our executive employees who were granted the majority of the options in the annual grants made during the three months ended January 31, 2011, which we believe is representative of future behavior. | Â | Â | Â |
| Prior maximum exercise period, retirement eligible employees (in years) | Â | 3 | Â | Â |
| New maximum exercise period, retirement eligible employees (in years) | 10 | Â | Â | Â |