COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013 subsidiary	Sep. 30, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of subsidiaries prior to sale of assets related to PEO operation (subsidiary)	17
Remaining liability for penalties and interest related to payroll taxes	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,300,000
Accrued penalties and interest related to payroll taxes	600,000
Payment of payroll taxes	0	0
Wage adjustment required	$ 0
Maximum percentage of annual salary used to calculate ump sum payemtn in event of change in control (percent)	150.00%

Represents the remaining liability for penalties and interest related to payroll taxes.

No definition available.

Name:	dlhc_LossContingencyPayrollTaxesPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the penalties and interest sought by IRS related to payroll taxes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_LossContingencyPayrollTaxesPenaltiesAndInterestSought
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the percentage of annual salary that is due to an employee in the event of a change in control of the Company. Payment will be made in the form a a lump sum equal to the employee's annual salary multiplied by the percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_MaximumPercentageOfAnnualSalaryDueToEmployeesPerEmploymentAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of subsidiaries of the entity prior to the sale of the assets from discontinued operation in fiscal 2003.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_NumberOfSubsidiariesOperatingBeforeSaleOfAssetsOfDiscontinuedOperationInFiscal2003
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of statutory payroll taxes paid through that date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_PaymentOfPayrollTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of wage adjustments required to be made by the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_WageAdjustmentsRequired
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration