Credit Facilities and Short-term Borrowings (Short-term Borrowings and Availability Under Various Short-term Credit Facilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Total availability	$ 1,048,808
Outstanding letters of credit and guarantees	(8,620)
Outstanding borrowings	(352,430)
Remaining availability	687,758
Other Foreign Short-term Borrowings [Member]
Outstanding borrowings	0
Foreign Performance Guarantee Facilities [Member]
Total availability	8,619
Outstanding letters of credit and guarantees	(343)
Outstanding borrowings	0
Remaining availability	8,276
Foreign Lines of Credit And Overdraft Facilities [Member]
Total availability	40,189
Outstanding letters of credit and guarantees	0
Outstanding borrowings	(2,430)
Remaining availability	37,759
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Total availability	1,000,000
Outstanding letters of credit and guarantees	(8,277)
Outstanding borrowings	(350,000)
Remaining availability	641,723
Chinese Credit Facility [Member]
Total availability	22,700	$ 22,700
Outstanding borrowings	$ 0

Fair value of the amount outstanding under the credit facility.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13433-108611

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13476-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityFairValueOfAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit and guarantees outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wwd_LettersOfCreditAndGuaranteesOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	wwd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=wwd_ForeignLinesOfCreditAndOverdraftFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=wwd_ChineseCreditFacilityMember
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Data Type:	na
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