Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Remaining cash equivalents	$ 491,950	$ 491,950	$ 584,767
Maturity period of cash equivalents at the time of purchase		Three months or less
Maturity period of instruments in short term investments		Three months to one year
Transfer of assets in and out of level 1, 2 and 3 measurements during the period	0	0
Transfer of liabilities in and out of level 1, 2 and 3 measurements during the period	0	0
Fair value of long-term debt	4,222,308	4,222,308	2,839,697
4.55% Notes Due 2013 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of debt	200,000	200,000
Debt instrument, interest rate	4.55%	4.55%
Fair value of debt reclassified from long term to short term	$ 206,374	$ 206,374

Fair value of debt classified from long term to short term.

No definition available.

Name:	bdx_FairValueOfDebtClassifiedFromLongTermToShortTerm
Namespace Prefix:	bdx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	bdx_FinancialInstrumentsAndFairValueMeasurementsTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	bdx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum maturity period of liquid investments classified as cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bdx_MaturityPeriodOfCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	bdx_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maturity period of time deposits classified as short-term investments in the consolidated balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bdx_MaturityPeriodOfInstrumentsInShortTermInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	bdx_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amounts of cash equivalents that are carried at cost and are not measured at fair value under the fair value measurement requirements for financial assets and liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bdx_RemainingCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	bdx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents [net] transfers in to and out of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph c(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents [net] transfers in to and out of liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityTransfersNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. Fair value of Loans Payable at the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant