Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	ACTUANT CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000006955
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--08-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		60,536,922
Entity Public Float			$ 1,496,586,334
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false