Name:	hbio_CreditAgreementLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Threshold amount after borrowings against the DDLT result in a dollar for dollar reduction in the Revolving Line capacity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hbio_DdtlThresholdForDollarForDollarReductionInRevolvingLine
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the lender approval is required to fund acquisition with cash, promissory notes and/ or other consideration in excess of the threshold as stated in the revolving credit loan agreement with Bank of America.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hbio_LenderApprovalToFundAcquisitionWithCashPromissoryNoteInExcessOfThreshold
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the lender approval is required to fund acquisition with equity in excess of the threshold as stated in the revolving credit loan agreement with Bank of America.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hbio_LenderApprovalToFundAcquisitionWithEquityInExcessOfThreshold
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the maturity dates for various types of loans included in the credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hbio_MaturityDates
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Company was required to fix the rate of interest on minimum percentage of Term Loan and the DDTL

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hbio_MinimunPercentageOfTermLoanAndDelayedDrawTermLoanOnWhichInterestRateRequiredToBeFixed
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the credit facility replaced by the new credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hbio_PreviousApprovedCreditFacility
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the interest rate on the term loan and delayed drawdown term loan at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hbio_SecuredDebtInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
Namespace Prefix:	hbio_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum amount borrowed under the credit facility at any time during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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

Revolving Credit Facility (Narratives) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 05, 2013	Mar. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 07, 2009
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Previous Approved Credit Facility						$ 20
Secured Debt			23.50	23.50	13.00
Minimum percentage of Term Loan and the DDTL that company was required to fix the rate of interest on	50.00%	50.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity			25.0	25.0
Debt issuance costs			0	0.3
Maximum borrowings available under the current Credit Agreement		50
DDTL threshold for dollar for dollar reduction in revolving line		10
Lender Approval To Fund Acquisition With Cash Promissory Note In Excess Of Threshold		6
Lender Approval To Fund Acquisition With Equity In Excess Of Threshold		10
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Secured Debt		25.00	10.00	10.00
Maturity Dates		Mar. 29, 2016
Basis spread over LIBOR		2.50%
Secured Debt Interest Rate At Period End			3.18%	3.18%
Term Loan [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Secured Debt		15.00	13.50	13.50
Maturity Dates		Mar. 29, 2018
Basis spread over LIBOR		3.00%
Secured Debt Interest Rate At Period End			3.96%	3.96%
Delayed Drawdown Term Loan [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Secured Debt		$ 15.00
Maturity Dates		Mar. 29, 2018
Basis spread over LIBOR		3.00%