Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 01, 2017
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		26,351,483
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1