Derivatives - Details of Derivatives Held to Manage Foreign Currency Risk (Detail)		Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 EUR (€)
Net Investment [Member] | Cross Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount				$ 250,000,000
Net Investment [Member] | 3.4% Notes [Member] | Cross Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 250,000,000	€ 223,000,000	250,000,000	€ 223,000,000
Net Investment [Member] | 3.4% Notes [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt [Member] | Cross Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate on borrowing		3.40%	3.40%
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Forward Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	[1]	$ 2,000,000		$ 4,000,000

[1] Cabot’s forward foreign exchange contracts are denominated primarily in the Indonesian rupiah, Czech koruna, and British pound sterling.