Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign		$ 4,276	$ 2,245
Undistributed foreign earnings for which Woodward has not provided for taxes		113,788
Favorable resolutions of tax matters		2,148	4,667	6,846
Income tax expense reduction due to research and experimentation tax credit		3,908
Reduction in liability for unrecognized tax benefits	(6,416)		6,784
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate		14,078	8,720
Estimated decrease in liability for unrecognized tax benefits		600
Foreign Country [Member]
Operating loss carryforwards		25,024
Operating loss carryforwards, amount that will expire		16,789
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration date		2018
Business Acquisition, Acquiree - IDS [Member]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate		$ 3,517