Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Brooks Automation, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Brooks” or the “Company”) included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, and necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented have been reflected. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2014, the Company determined that its Granville-Phillips Gas Analysis & Vacuum Measurement ("Granville-Phillips") business met the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. As a result, the Company’s historical financial statements have been revised to present the operating results of the Granville-Phillips business as a discontinued operation. The results of operations from the Granville-Phillips business are presented as “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Assets and liabilities identifiable within the Granville-Phillips business are reported as "Assets held for sale" and "Liabilities held for sale," respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The discussion in the notes to these consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise noted, relate solely to the Company's continuing operations (See Note 3). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted and, accordingly, the accompanying financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 (the "2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K"). Use of Estimates and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are associated with accounts receivable, inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, deferred income taxes, warranty obligations, revenue recognized using the percentage of completion method and stock-based compensation expense on performance-based awards. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions, including in certain circumstances, future projections, that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Although the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 in the 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Recently Enacted Accounting Pronouncements In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The prior guidance related to unrecognized tax benefits did not explicitly address financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists. The amended guidance eliminates the existing diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits in these instances. Under the amended guidance, an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, will be presented in the financial statements as a reduction of a deferred tax asset when an operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists, with limited exceptions. This amended guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations. In April 2014, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for reporting discontinued operations. The amended guidance raises the threshold for disposals to qualify as a discontinued operation by requiring a component of an entity that is held for sale, or has been disposed of by sale, to represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on operations and financial results. Under the amended guidance, a strategic shift could include the disposal of a major line of business, a major geographical area, a major equity method investment or other major parts of an entity. In addition, the new guidance allows companies to have significant continuing involvement and continuing cash flows with the discontinued operation. The amended guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted for disposals, or classifications as held for sale, that have not been previously reported in financial statements. The Company has not considered this amended guidance in regard to the Granville-Phillips discontinued operation. In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance for reporting revenue recognition. The guidance recognizes revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. The five step process may make it possible that more judgment and estimation is required within the revenue recognition process than required under existing GAAP, including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial position and results of operations.

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Brooks Automation, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Brooks” or the “Company”) included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, and necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented have been reflected. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year.

In the second quarter of fiscal year 2014, the Company determined that its Granville-Phillips Gas Analysis & Vacuum Measurement ("Granville-Phillips") business met the criteria to be reported as a discontinued operation. As a result, the Company’s historical financial statements have been revised to present the operating results of the Granville-Phillips business as a discontinued operation. The results of operations from the Granville-Phillips business are presented as “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Assets and liabilities identifiable within the Granville-Phillips business are reported as "Assets held for sale" and "Liabilities held for sale," respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The discussion in the notes to these consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise noted, relate solely to the Company's continuing operations (See Note 3).

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted and, accordingly, the accompanying financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 (the "2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K").

Use of Estimates and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are associated with accounts receivable, inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, deferred income taxes, warranty obligations, revenue recognized using the percentage of completion method and stock-based compensation expense on performance-based awards. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions, including in certain circumstances, future projections, that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Although the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 in the 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recently Enacted Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The prior guidance related to unrecognized tax benefits did not explicitly address financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists. The amended guidance eliminates the existing diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits in these instances. Under the amended guidance, an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, will be presented in the financial statements as a reduction of a deferred tax asset when an operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists, with limited exceptions. This amended guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

In April 2014, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for reporting discontinued operations. The amended guidance raises the threshold for disposals to qualify as a discontinued operation by requiring a component of an entity that is held for sale, or has been disposed of by sale, to represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on operations and financial results. Under the amended guidance, a strategic shift could include the disposal of a major line of business, a major geographical area, a major equity method investment or other major parts of an entity. In addition, the new guidance allows companies to have significant continuing involvement and continuing cash flows with the discontinued operation. The amended guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted for disposals, or classifications as held for sale, that have not been previously reported in financial statements. The Company has not considered this amended guidance in regard to the Granville-Phillips discontinued operation.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance for reporting revenue recognition. The guidance recognizes revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. The five step process may make it possible that more judgment and estimation is required within the revenue recognition process than required under existing GAAP, including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its financial position and results of operations.