Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Treasury Stock Shares Held for Deferred Compensation Included in Basic and Diluted Shares Outstanding) (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Earnings Per Share
Weighted-average treasury stock shares held for deferred compensation obligations	284	324	299	340

Weighted-average number of shares of treasury stock held for deferred compensation determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that treasury stock shares held for deferred compensation have been outstanding to the total time in that period. Treasury stock shares held for deferred compensation shares are shares of company stock, issued to a trust (for example a 'rabbi trust') set up specifically to accumulate stock or other investments for the purpose of deferring taxable income to participating employees until the stock or other investments are distributed to the participating employees. These shares are included in basic and diluted shares in the calculation of earnings per share.

No definition available.

Name:	wwd_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesTreasuryStockDeferredCompensationShares
Namespace Prefix:	wwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration