New Accounting Standards Implemented - Cumulative effect on Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Oct. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Restricted cash			$ 27,400	$ 11,800
Accounts receivable - net	$ 118,291	$ 155,624	392,367
Contract assets	320,277	272,210
Recoverable income taxes	1,321	91	91
Inventories	92,201	61,688	84,199
Assets held for sale	8,177	8,177	8,177
Other current assets	40,924	43,705	43,705
Total current assets	684,675	681,103	668,147
Long-term contracts receivables			6,134
Long-term contracts financing receivables			6,134
Property, plant and equipment, net	125,298	117,546	117,546
Deferred income taxes	4,687	5,102	4,713
Goodwill	484,329	333,626	333,626
Purchased intangibles, net	137,201	73,533	73,533
Other assets	13,871
Total assets	1,548,955	1,321,130	1,304,883
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	64,500
Contract liabilities	69,713	70,127
Customer advances			75,941
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities	82,323	118,816	118,233
Income taxes payable	6,771	8,586	8,586
Total current liabilities	332,606	320,097	328,339
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	260,141	45,008	45,008
Retained earnings	815,083	821,668	801,834
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(112,642)	(110,643)	(110,643)
Treasury stock at cost	(36,078)	(36,078)	(36,078)
Shareholders’ equity related to Cubic	926,504	719,955	700,121
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated VIE	24,703	28,730	24,075
Total shareholders’ equity	951,207	748,685	724,196
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,548,955	1,321,130	1,304,883
Cubic Corporation Excluding VIE
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	75,174	111,834	111,834
Restricted cash	17,889	17,400	17,400
Long-term contracts financing receivables	44,936	56,228
Long-term capitalized contract costs			84,924
Other assets	13,871	14,192	14,192
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	109,094	122,403	125,414
Long-term debt	199,801	199,793	199,793
Other long term liabilities	43,838	43,486	43,486
OpCo.
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	421	374	374
Restricted cash	10,000	10,000	10,000
Long-term contracts financing receivables	52,996	38,990
Long-term capitalized contract costs			1,258
Other assets	962	810	810
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	205	165	165
Long-term debt	15,357	9,056	9,056
Other long term liabilities	6,146	$ 13	13
ASU 2014-09 | ASC 606
Current assets:
Accounts receivable - net	(272,564)		(236,743)
Contract assets	320,277		272,210
Recoverable income taxes	235
Inventories	(29,022)		(22,511)
Total current assets	18,926		12,956
Long-term contracts receivables	(4,064)		(6,134)
Deferred income taxes	389		389
Total assets	15,738		16,247
Current liabilities:
Contract liabilities	69,713		70,127
Customer advances	(80,993)		(75,941)
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities			583
Income taxes payable	259
Total current liabilities	(13,237)		(8,242)
Shareholders' equity:
Retained earnings	22,366		19,834
Shareholders’ equity related to Cubic	22,366		19,834
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated VIE	6,609		4,655
Total shareholders’ equity	28,975		24,489
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	15,738		16,247
ASU 2014-09 | Cubic Corporation Excluding VIE | ASC 606
Current assets:
Long-term contracts financing receivables	44,936		56,228
Long-term capitalized contract costs	(95,894)		(84,924)
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	(2,216)		(3,011)
ASU 2014-09 | OpCo. | ASC 606
Current assets:
Long-term contracts financing receivables	52,996		38,990
Long-term capitalized contract costs	$ (1,551)		$ (1,258)