Noncontrolling Interests (Narrative) (Details) (Indura [Member])	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Indura [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Agreement to purchase additional equity interest under put option	30.50%
Put option exercise period start date	1 July 2015
Put option exercise period beginning 1 July 2015	2 years

Shareholder has right to exercise a put option to require the purchase of additional equity interest of this percentage

No definition available.

Name:	apd_AgreementToPurchaseAdditionalSharesUnderPutOption
Namespace Prefix:	apd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant