Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

Name:	us-gaap_RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Segment and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Segment	Sep. 30, 2011 Entity	Sep. 30, 2011 Brooks Product Solutions	Sep. 30, 2010 Brooks Product Solutions	Sep. 30, 2011 Contract Manufacturing	Sep. 30, 2010 Contract Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	4
Number of companies acquired		2
Intercompany sales			$ 49.2	$ 62.9	$ 10.7	$ 12.5