Supplemental Statements of Cash Flows Information (Schedule of Cash Flow Supplemental Disclosures) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Supplemental Statements of Cash Flows Information
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	$ 15,507us-gaap_InterestPaid	$ 13,465us-gaap_InterestPaid
Income taxes paid	31,060us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	14,343us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Income tax refunds received	387us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds	1,330us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds
Purchases of property, plant and equipment on account	54,381	8,899
Common shares issued from treasury for benefit plans (Note 17)	12,574	11,193
Notes receivable from municipalities for economic development incentives	0	6,596
Cashless exercise of stock options	0wwd_NonCashExerciseOfStockOptions	715wwd_NonCashExerciseOfStockOptions
Settlement of receivable through cashless acquisition of treasury shares in connection with the cashless exercise of stock options	$ 0	$ 871

Future cash outflow to pay for purchases of fixed assets that have occurred.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of cash received during the period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SupplementalCashFlowInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of common shares issued from treasury stock as contributions to benefit plans. This items represents both a debit to accrued liabilities and a credit to APIC and treasury stock. Transaction has no impact on cash.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wwd_NonCashCommonStockIssuedFromTreasuryStockForBenefitPlans
Namespace Prefix:	wwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The noncash amount associated with holders exercising their stock options through a stock swap. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately. This item represents both a credit to equity through the sale of treasury stock from the exercise of stock options and a debit to equity as the exercise of stock options are settled with company stock (a purchase of treasury stock) in lieu of cash.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wwd_NonCashExerciseOfStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	wwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The noncash amount associated with the receipt of a note receivable from a municipal corporation in connection with certain economic incentives related to the company's development of additional manufacturing and office facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wwd_NonCashNoteReceivableWithMunicipalityReceivedInConnectionWithEconomicDevelopmentIncentives
Namespace Prefix:	wwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The noncash amounts associated with the settlement of accounts receivable purchase of treasury stock in connection with the cashless exercise of stock options

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wwd_NoncashSettlementOfAccountsReceivableThroughPurchaseOfTreasurySharesInConnectionWithCashlessExerciseOfStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	wwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration