Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 09, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Atmos Energy Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000731802
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		103,964,735
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 7,463,087,078