BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Depreciation, Amortization And Capital Expenditures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment depreciation and amortization	$ 15,492	$ 13,313	$ 30,577	$ 26,271
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES	9,021	10,843	17,418	21,628
Home And Building Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment depreciation and amortization	12,732	10,504	25,047	20,637
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES	6,330	8,192	13,475	14,850
Telephonics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment depreciation and amortization	2,621	2,695	5,257	5,414
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES	2,499	2,442	3,733	4,385
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment depreciation and amortization	15,353	13,199	30,304	26,051
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES	8,829	10,634	17,208	19,235
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment depreciation and amortization	139	114	273	220
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES	$ 192	$ 209	$ 210	$ 2,393

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gff_HomeAndBuildingProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gff_TelephonicsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: