CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 04, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014	Apr. 04, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 10,340	$ 9,170	$ 20,273	$ 18,219
Cost of sales	(5,779)	(5,568)	(11,703)	(10,785)
Gross profit	4,561	3,602	8,570	7,434
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2,586)	(2,323)	(5,079)	(4,515)
Research and development expenses	(1,301)	(1,083)	(2,535)	(2,013)
Operating income	674	196	956	906
Interest expense	(14)	(19)	(40)	(35)
Interest income	11	1	16	1
Foreign currency gain (loss)	235	(39)	279	(124)
Change in fair value of foreign exchange contracts	(200)	0	(200)	0
Income before income tax	706	139	1,011	748
Income tax (provision) benefit	(65)	23	(105)	(98)
Net income	641	162	906	650
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	12	0	29	0
Net income attributable to Sevcon, Inc. and subsidiaries	653	162	935	650
Preference share dividends	(114)	0	(225)	0
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 539	$ 162	$ 710	$ 650
Net income per ordinary share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.05	$ 0.21	$ 0.19
Net income per ordinary share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.05	$ 0.19	$ 0.19
Weighted average shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	3,466	3,401	3,446	3,388
Diluted (in shares)	4,912	3,491	4,903	3,452