CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Non-controlling Interests
Balance at Sep. 30, 2009	$ 33,220,000	$ 4,202,000	$ 1,227,000		$ 30,500,000	$ (1,349,000)	$ (2,262,000)	$ 902,000
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2009		8,240,160
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Exercise of stock options - 42,000 shares, net of 5,000 shares tendered and placed in treasury	59,000	21,000	62,000				(24,000)
Exercise of stock options - 42,000 shares, net of 5,000 shares tendered and placed in treasury (in shares)		37,000
Contributions from non-controlling interests	781,000							781,000
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(1,247,000)							(1,247,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net earnings	4,609,000			4,609,000	3,756,000			853,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	321,000			321,000		321,000
Retirement plans - amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	201,000			201,000		201,000
Total comprehensive income (loss)				5,131,000
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests				(853,000)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc.				4,278,000
Balance at Jun. 30, 2010	37,944,000	4,223,000	1,289,000		34,256,000	(827,000)	(2,286,000)	1,289,000
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2010		8,277,160
Balance at Mar. 31, 2010	38,759,000	4,223,000	1,289,000		33,942,000	815,000	(2,286,000)	776,000
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2010		8,277,160
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Contributions from non-controlling interests	653,000							653,000
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(329,000)							(329,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net earnings	503,000			503,000	314,000			189,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(1,709,000)			(1,709,000)		(1,709,000)
Retirement plans - amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	67,000			67,000		67,000
Total comprehensive income (loss)				(1,139,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests				(189,000)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc.				(1,328,000)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2010	37,944,000				34,256,000	(827,000)		1,289,000
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010	38,608,000	4,223,000	1,289,000		34,340,000	49,000	(2,286,000)	993,000
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2010		8,277,160
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Contributions from non-controlling interests	280,000							280,000
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(740,000)							(740,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net earnings	980,000			980,000	424,000			556,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	2,353,000			2,353,000		2,353,000
Retirement plans - amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	190,000			190,000		190,000
Total comprehensive income (loss)				3,523,000
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests				(556,000)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc.				2,967,000
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	41,671,000	4,223,000	1,289,000		34,764,000	2,592,000	(2,286,000)	1,089,000
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2011		8,277,160
Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	40,669,000	4,223,000	1,289,000		33,962,000	2,379,000	(2,286,000)	1,102,000
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2011		8,277,160
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Contributions from non-controlling interests	40,000							40,000
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(138,000)							(138,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net earnings	887,000			887,000	802,000			85,000
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	150,000			150,000		150,000
Retirement plans - amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost, net of taxes of $0 for three months and nine months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	63,000			63,000		63,000
Total comprehensive income (loss)				1,100,000
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests				(85,000)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Barnwell Industries, Inc.				1,015,000
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	$ 41,671,000	$ 4,223,000	$ 1,289,000		$ 34,764,000	$ 2,592,000	$ (2,286,000)	$ 1,089,000
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2011		8,277,160