Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 29, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	POWELL INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000080420
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	powl
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,358,711