Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 29, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	NUAN
Entity Registrant Name	Nuance Communications, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001002517
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		304,446,272