Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Aug. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SURMODICS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000924717
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Common stock, par value	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,544,156