Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS 401(k) Plan In November 1998, we established the Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). All full-time IES employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month subsequent to completing sixty days of service and attaining age twenty-one. Participants become vested in our matching contributions following three years of service. On February 13, 2009, we suspended company matching cash contributions to employee's contributions due to the significant impact the economic recession has had on the Company's financial performance. The aggregate contributions by us to the 401(k) Plan were $0, $0 and $769, respectively, for the years ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Management Incentive Plan On December 10, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, of IES approved and adopted the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan including the performance-based criteria by which potential payouts to participants will be determined. The total award under the Incentive Compensation Plan was dependent on the level of achievement against performance goals. As of September 30, 2009, we had recorded a total liability for incentive compensation of approximately $2,235, which was paid in fiscal 2010. On December 8, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of IES approved and adopted the 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan including the performance-based criteria by which potential payouts to participants will be determined. The total award under the Incentive Compensation Plan is dependent on the level of achievement against performance goals. None of the performance-based criteria were met in 2010 for the Incentive Compensation Plan and no liability was recorded as of September 30, 2010. On December 16, 2010, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of IES approved and adopted the 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan including the performance-based criteria by which potential payouts to participants will be determined. The total award under the Incentive Compensation Plan is dependent on the level of achievement against performance goals. None of the performance-based criteria were met in 2011 for the Incentive Compensation Plan and no liability was recorded as of September 30, 2011. Executive Savings Plan Under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan adopted on July 1, 2004 (the “Executive Savings Plan”), certain employees are permitted to defer a portion (up to 75%) of their base salary and/or bonus for a Plan Year. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, credit one or more participants with an employer deferral (contribution) in such amount as the Committee may choose (“Employer Contribution”). The Employer Contribution, if any, may be a fixed dollar amount, a fixed percentage of the participant's compensation, base salary, or bonus, or a “matching” amount with respect to all or part of the participant's elective deferrals for such plan year, and/or any combination of the foregoing as the Committee may choose. On February 13, 2009, we suspended Company matching cash contributions to employee's contributions due to the significant impact the economic recession has had on the Company's financial performance. The aggregate contributions by us to the Executive Savings Plan were $0 for the September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009. Post Retirement Benefit Plans Certain individuals at one of the Company's locations are entitled to receive fixed annual payments that reach a maximum amount, as specified in the related agreements, for a ten year period following retirement or, in some cases, the attainment of 62 years of age. We recognize the unfunded status of the plan as a non-current liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Benefits vest 50% after ten years of service, which increases by 10% per annum until benefits are fully vested after 15 years of service. We had an unfunded benefit liability of $781 and $576 recorded as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

401(k) Plan

In November 1998, we established the Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “401(k) Plan”). All full-time IES employees are eligible to participate on the first day of the month subsequent to completing sixty days of service and attaining age twenty-one. Participants become vested in our matching contributions following three years of service.

On February 13, 2009, we suspended company matching cash contributions to employee's contributions due to the significant impact the economic recession has had on the Company's financial performance. The aggregate contributions by us to the 401(k) Plan were $0, $0 and $769, respectively, for the years ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Management Incentive Plan

On December 10, 2008, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, of IES approved and adopted the 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan including the performance-based criteria by which potential payouts to participants will be determined. The total award under the Incentive Compensation Plan was dependent on the level of achievement against performance goals. As of September 30, 2009, we had recorded a total liability for incentive compensation of approximately $2,235, which was paid in fiscal 2010.

On December 8, 2009, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of IES approved and adopted the 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan including the performance-based criteria by which potential payouts to participants will be determined. The total award under the Incentive Compensation Plan is dependent on the level of achievement against performance goals. None of the performance-based criteria were met in 2010 for the Incentive Compensation Plan and no liability was recorded as of September 30, 2010.

On December 16, 2010, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of IES approved and adopted the 2011 Incentive Compensation Plan including the performance-based criteria by which potential payouts to participants will be determined. The total award under the Incentive Compensation Plan is dependent on the level of achievement against performance goals. None of the performance-based criteria were met in 2011 for the Incentive Compensation Plan and no liability was recorded as of September 30, 2011.

Executive Savings Plan

Under the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan adopted on July 1, 2004 (the “Executive Savings Plan”), certain employees are permitted to defer a portion (up to 75%) of their base salary and/or bonus for a Plan Year. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, credit one or more participants with an employer deferral (contribution) in such amount as the Committee may choose (“Employer Contribution”). The Employer Contribution, if any, may be a fixed dollar amount, a fixed percentage of the participant's compensation, base salary, or bonus, or a “matching” amount with respect to all or part of the participant's elective deferrals for such plan year, and/or any combination of the foregoing as the Committee may choose.

On February 13, 2009, we suspended Company matching cash contributions to employee's contributions due to the significant impact the economic recession has had on the Company's financial performance. The aggregate contributions by us to the Executive Savings Plan were $0 for the September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Post Retirement Benefit Plans

Certain individuals at one of the Company's locations are entitled to receive fixed annual payments that reach a maximum amount, as specified in the related agreements, for a ten year period following retirement or, in some cases, the attainment of 62 years of age. We recognize the unfunded status of the plan as a non-current liability in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Benefits vest 50% after ten years of service, which increases by 10% per annum until benefits are fully vested after 15 years of service. We had an unfunded benefit liability of $781 and $576 recorded as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.