Employee Benefit Plans (Pretax Amount Recognized In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Actuarial net loss	$ 7,819	$ 7,770

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