Acquisitions - Goodwill and Pro forma information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Unaudited pro forma information
Net sales	$ 1,487.5	$ 1,488.6
Net income attributable to Cubic	(11.6)	$ 0.1
Adjustments made for transaction expenses	$ 0.0

Represents the transaction expenses adjustments made for acquisition of assets and assumptions of liabilities in the business combination.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cub_BusinessCombinationAdjustmentsForTransactionExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	cub_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

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