Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Net sales	$ 2,098,685	$ 2,023,078	$ 2,038,303
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	1,526,126	1,483,960	1,462,833
Selling, general and administrative expenses	176,633	174,017	177,121
Research and development costs	126,519	126,170	134,485
Interest expense	27,430	26,776	24,864
Interest income	(1,725)	(2,025)	(787)
Other (income) expense, net (Note 15)	(9,045)	(12,306)	(1,162)
Total costs and expenses	1,845,938	1,796,592	1,797,354
Earnings before income taxes	252,747	226,486	240,949
Income tax expense	52,240	45,648	59,497
Net earnings	$ 200,507	$ 180,838	$ 181,452
Earnings per share (Note 3):
Basic earnings per share	$ 3.27	$ 2.92	$ 2.81
Diluted earnings per share	$ 3.16	$ 2.85	$ 2.75
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (Note 3):
Basic	61,366	61,893	64,684
Diluted	63,512	63,556	66,056
Cash dividends per share paid to Woodward common stockholders	$ 0.485	$ 0.430	$ 0.380