Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	May 09, 2013
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	DATAWATCH CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000792130
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		6,481,711
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013