Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2013	May 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type		10-Q
Amendment Flag		false
Document Period End Date	May 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus		2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus		Q2
Trading Symbol		ATU
Entity Registrant Name		ACTUANT CORP
Entity Central Index Key		0000006955
Current Fiscal Year End Date		--08-31
Entity Filer Category		Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			73,256,926