Employee Benefit Plans (Pretax Amount Recognized In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Actuarial net loss	$ 15,476	$ 9,999

The total net actuarial (gain) loss, pretax amount recognized.

No definition available.

Name:	mtsc_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetActuarialGainLossPretaxAmountRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	mtsc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration