| **Loss per share attributable to Navistar International Corporation (Tables)** | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
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| **Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Schedule of Earnings Per Share Reconciliation                                  | The following table shows the information used in the calculation of our basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Navistar International Corporation: Three Months Ended April 30, Six Months Ended     April 30, 2012 2011 2012 2011(in millions, except per share data)       Numerator:       Earnings (loss) attributable to Navistar International Corporation available to common stockholders$(172) $74 $(325) $68Denominator:       Weighted average shares outstanding:       Basic68.7 73.0 69.3 72.8Effect of dilutive securities— 5.6 — 4.5Diluted68.7 78.6 69.3 77.3        Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Navistar International Corporation:       Basic$(2.50) $1.01 $(4.69) $0.93Diluted(2.50) 0.93 (4.69) 0.87 |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the reconciliation of basic net earnings per share (or unit) to diluted earnings per share (or unit).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Publisher FASB -Number  -Article  -Subparagraph  -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 1 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257
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