Additional borrowing capacity on credit facility if agreed to by lenders

Name:	pmtc_AdditionalBorrowingCapacityOnCreditFacilityIfAgreedToByLenders
Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Adjusted LIBO rate

+ Details

Name:	pmtc_AdjustedLiboRate
Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash Investment Limit For Acquisition of Business

+ Details

Name:	pmtc_CashInvestmentLimitForAcquisitionOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Federal funds effective interest rate

+ Details

Name:	pmtc_FederalFundsEffectiveInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment in Foreign Subsidiaries Authorized Amount

+ Details

Name:	pmtc_InvestmentInForeignSubsidiariesAuthorizedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Stated Interest Rate on Base Rate Borrowings

+ Details

Name:	pmtc_StatedInterestRateOnBaseRateBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stated interest rate on eurodollar-based borrowings

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Voting interest in foreign subsidiaries pledged against credit facility

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	pmtc
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Identification of whether the entity has been in compliance with any credit facility debt covenants during the period.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the conditions for borrowing under the credit facility including the nature of any restrictions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase for additional borrowings on the credit facility during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 4
-Section 08
-Paragraph f

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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Commitments And Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Commitments And Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Jul. 02, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	May 31, 2011 MKS Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 02, 2011 MKS Acquisition [Member]	Jul. 02, 2011 Leverage Ratio [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jul. 02, 2011 Leverage Ratio [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jul. 02, 2011 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jul. 02, 2011 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jul. 02, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Jul. 02, 2011 Minimum [Member]
Credit facility amount	$ 300,000,000
Revolving credit facility, additional borrowings			250,000,000
Revolving credit facility additional borrowing limit	150,000,000
Voting interest in foreign subsidiaries pledged against credit facility	65.00%
Borrowings outstanding		0		250,000,000
Credit facility interest rate			2.10%						2.25%	1.75%
Federal funds effective rate	0.005%
Adjusted LIBO rate	LIBO rate plus 1%
Stated interest rate on base rate borrowings									1.25%	0.75%
Credit facility commitment fees percentage									0.40%	0.30%
Investment limit in foreign subsidiaries	50,000,000
Cash investment limit for acquisition of business	$ 75,000,000
Ratio, terms					2.50	1.00	1.25	1.00
Ratio, actual					1.14	1.00	1.86	1.00