Income Taxes (Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Taxes
Gross liability	$ 18,924	$ 18,069
Amount that would impact Woodward’s effective tax rate, if recognized, net of expected offsetting adjustments	$ 16,448	$ 15,061

Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15A

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant