CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 1,496,475	$ 1,202,898	$ 1,107,709
Costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	270,064	258,644	240,196
Research and development	50,132	52,398	52,652
Amortization of purchased intangibles	42,106	27,064	30,245
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	(32,510)		405
Restructuring costs	15,386	5,018	2,260
Total costs and expenses	1,410,238	1,178,516	1,105,081
Operating income	86,237	24,382	2,628
Other income (expenses):
Interest and dividend income	6,519	1,615	953
Interest expense	(20,453)	(10,424)	(15,027)
Other income (expense), net	(19,957)	(687)	364
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	52,346	14,886	(11,082)
Income tax provision	11,040	7,093	14,658
Income (loss) from continuing operations	41,306	7,793	(25,740)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,423)	4,243	14,531
Net income (loss)	39,883	12,036	(11,209)
Less noncontrolling interest in loss of VIE	(9,811)	(274)
Net income (loss) attributable to Cubic	49,694	12,310	(11,209)
Amounts attributable to Cubic:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	51,117	8,067	(25,740)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,423)	4,243	14,531
Net income (loss) attributable to Cubic	$ 49,694	$ 12,310	$ (11,209)
Basic
Continuing operations attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.68	$ 0.30	$ (0.95)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.05)	0.16	0.54
Basic earnings per share attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	1.63	0.45	(0.41)
Diluted
Continuing operations attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	1.67	0.29	(0.95)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.05)	0.16	0.54
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.62	$ 0.45	$ (0.41)
Weighted average shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	30,495	27,229	27,106
Diluted (in shares)	30,606	27,351	27,106
Products
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 1,011,069	$ 704,941	$ 681,559
Costs and expenses:
Costs	732,137	472,698	473,670
Services
Net sales:
Net sales	485,406	497,957	426,150
Costs and expenses:
Costs	$ 332,923	$ 362,694	$ 305,653