EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Net Earnings (Loss) (Numerator)
Basic	$ (3,615)	$ 1,263
Diluted	$ (3,615)	$ 1,263
Shares (Denominator)
Basic (in shares)	8,277,160	8,277,160
Effect of dilutive securities-common stock options (in shares)	0	0
Diluted (in shares)	8,277,160	8,277,160
Per-Share Amount
Basic net earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.44)	$ 0.15
Diluted net earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.44)	$ 0.15
Options
Antidilutive shares of common stock excluded from the computation of diluted shares
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share (in shares)	621,250	621,250