CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues
Product	$ 97,098	$ 161,189
Services	23,130	17,178
Total revenues	120,228	178,367
Cost of revenues
Product	64,289	108,973
Services	15,582	12,075
Total cost of revenues	79,871	121,048
Gross profit	40,357	57,319
Operating expenses
Research and development	11,949	8,898
Selling, general and administrative	26,742	24,478
Restructuring charges	203	214
Total operating expenses	38,894	33,590
Operating income	1,463	23,729
Interest income	279	275
Interest expense	(7)	(1)
Other income, net	346	161
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of joint ventures	2,081	24,164
Income tax provision	300	988
Income before equity in earnings of joint ventures	1,781	23,176
Equity in earnings of joint ventures	1,225	310
Net income	3,006	23,486
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8)
Net income attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$ 2,998	$ 23,486
Basic net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 0.05	$ 0.37
Diluted net income per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 0.05	$ 0.36
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic	64,812	64,263
Diluted	65,309	64,475