Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2014
Document - Document and Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	POWELL INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000080420
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,998,693