Stock-based Compensation, Equity Grants, and Warrants - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus			2016
Total compensation expense	$ 10	$ 72	$ 342	$ 346
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	101	302	101	302
DLH Employees
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	30	177	30	177
Non-employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	71	125	71	125
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | DLH Employees
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	6	72	14	169
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | Non-employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	$ 4	$ 0	$ 328	$ 177
Long Term Incentive Plan 2006 | Employee Stock Option
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant	1.0		1.0
Expiration term			10 years
Total compensation expense			$ 304
Prior Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Employee Stock Option
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense			$ 25