Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 21, 2017
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	HEADWATERS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001003344
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		74,977,737
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2