Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 05, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	APPLIED DNA SCIENCES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000744452
Trading Symbol	apdn
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		24,072,092
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1