Revenue (Schedule of Contract Asset) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
Contract With Customer Asset [Line Items]
Less: Allowance for uncollectible amounts	$ (3,995)	$ (3,938)
Net billed receivables	369,339	422,843
Current unbilled receivables (contract assets), net	120,190	9,160
Total accounts receivable, net	489,529	432,003	[1]
Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Contract With Customer Asset [Line Items]
Billed receivables	332,792	403,590
Other [Member]
Contract With Customer Asset [Line Items]
Billed receivables	$ 40,542	$ 23,191

[1] The adoption of ASC 606 changed the revenue recognition practices for a number of revenue generating activities across Woodward's businesses, although the most significant impacts are concentrated in product being produced for customers that have no alternative use to Woodward and Woodward has an enforceable right to payment with a profit, and MRO. The revenue related to these activities, which previously was accounted for on a point in time basis, is now required to use an over time model because the associated contracts meet one or more of the mandatory criteria established in ASC 606, as described above, and are included as current unbilled receivables in "Accounts receivable" and noncurrent unbilled receivables in "Other assets." The change in the timing of revenue recognized in connection with over time contracts similarly changed the timing of manufacturing cost recognition and certain engineering and development costs, which are reflected as a reduction to inventory.