Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income - Changes in Stockholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Stockholders' Equity Rollforward
Beginning balance			$ 7,726,994
Beginning balance			3,452
Beginning balance			7,730,446
Beginning balance			19,533
Adjustment for adoption of new consolidation guidance	0	0	14,255	0
Net Income Attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc.	503,347	360,495	1,507,604	1,072,783
Net Income	478,200	359,683	1,463,882	1,075,642
Other comprehensive income
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax	7,678	(32,416)
Currency translation adjustments	17,771	(51,505)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on defined benefit plans, net of tax	0	(508)
Repurchase of common stock			(617,103)	(503,762)
Noncontrolling Interests
Net consolidations (deconsolidations) of certain sponsored investment products			(1,674)	(94,940)
Ending balance	8,686,499		8,686,499
Ending balance	76,937		76,937
Ending balance	8,763,436		8,763,436
Ending balance	35,161		35,161
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Franklin Resources, Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Rollforward
Adjustment for adoption of new consolidation guidance			106,601
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Rollforward
Adjustment for adoption of new consolidation guidance			106,601
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Rollforward
Beginning balance			19,533	65,126
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(572)	(992)	307	2,259
Noncontrolling Interests
Net consolidations (deconsolidations) of certain sponsored investment products			(1,674)	(94,940)
Net subscriptions			16,995	56,350
Ending balance	35,161	28,795	35,161	28,795
Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Rollforward
Beginning balance			3,452	2,262
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(24,575)	180	(44,029)	600
Net income (loss) reclassified to appropriated retained earnings			46,294
Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest			749
Net consolidations (deconsolidations) of certain sponsored investment products			0	0
Net subscriptions			70,471	547
Ending balance	76,937	3,409	76,937	3,409
Franklin Resources, Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Rollforward
Beginning balance			7,726,994	7,632,173
Net Income Attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc.			1,507,604	1,072,783
Net income (loss) reclassified to appropriated retained earnings			(46,294)
Other comprehensive income
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax			(5,354)	2,738
Currency translation adjustments			63,096	(46,568)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on defined benefit plans, net of tax			232	(263)
Cash dividends on common stock			(166,856)	(836,773)
Repurchase of common stock			(617,103)	(503,762)
Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest			(3,473)
Other			121,052	106,174
Ending balance	8,686,499	7,426,502	8,686,499	7,426,502
Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Rollforward
Beginning balance			7,730,446	7,634,435
Net Income			1,463,575	1,073,383
Net income (loss) reclassified to appropriated retained earnings			0
Other comprehensive income
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax			(5,354)	2,738
Currency translation adjustments			63,096	(46,568)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on defined benefit plans, net of tax			232	(263)
Cash dividends on common stock			(166,856)	(836,773)
Repurchase of common stock			(617,103)	(503,762)
Noncontrolling Interests
Purchase of noncontrolling equity interest			(2,724)
Net consolidations (deconsolidations) of certain sponsored investment products			0	0
Net subscriptions			70,471	547
Other			121,052	106,174
Ending balance	$ 8,763,436	$ 7,429,911	$ 8,763,436	$ 7,429,911