Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 06, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SONIC FOUNDRY INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001029744
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 29,987,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,900,024