Segment and Geographic Information - Financial Information for Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue
Product	$ 387,032	$ 335,011	$ 402,505
Services	95,816	87,429	86,478
Total revenue	482,848	422,440	488,983
Gross profit	167,337	132,307	159,453
Segment operating income (loss)	(2,699)	(16,798)	1,642
Depreciation expense	12,700	13,700	13,100
Total assets	778,038	736,763
Brooks Product Solutions
Revenue
Product	325,639	290,523	351,432
Services	0	0	0
Total revenue	325,639	290,523	351,432
Gross profit	111,746	91,255	113,945
Segment operating income (loss)	10,836	1,116	13,330
Depreciation expense	8,316	8,698	8,600
Total assets	252,944	226,759
Brooks Global Services
Revenue
Product	14,978	13,152	11,324
Services	79,083	75,477	73,616
Total revenue	94,061	88,629	84,940
Gross profit	32,168	26,912	25,093
Segment operating income (loss)	12,451	9,592	8,898
Depreciation expense	2,361	2,746	2,344
Total assets	58,678	59,762
Brooks Life Science Systems
Revenue
Product	46,415	31,336	39,749
Services	16,733	11,952	12,862
Total revenue	63,148	43,288	52,611
Gross profit	23,423	14,140	20,415
Segment operating income (loss)	(8,431)	(12,380)	(3,139)
Depreciation expense	2,022	2,256	2,111
Total assets	103,498	105,221
Operating Segments, Total
Revenue
Product	387,032	335,011	402,505
Services	95,816	87,429	86,478
Total revenue	482,848	422,440	488,983
Gross profit	167,337	132,307	159,453
Segment operating income (loss)	14,856	(1,672)	19,089
Depreciation expense	12,699	13,700	13,055
Total assets	$ 415,120	$ 391,742