Other Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Net accrued retirement benefits, less amounts recognized within accrued liabilities	$ 69,482	$ 70,479
Noncurrent portion of deferred income from JV formation	238,866	238,187
Total unrecognized tax benefits, net of offsetting adjustments	9,157	17,239
Acquired unfavorable contracts	2,728	3,148
Deferred economic incentives	14,950	16,196
Other	13,180	15,573
Other liabilities	352,214	368,224
Loss Reserve On Contractual Lease Commitments [Member]
Loss reserve	$ 3,851	$ 7,402

Amount recognized for uncertainty in income taxes classified as noncurrent.

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

- Definition

Amount of liabilities classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

This represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement and postemployment benefit plans.

+ 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 210.5-02.24)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e2410-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e2417-114920

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64852052&loc=d3e1703-114919

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid after one year or beyond the next operating cycle, if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent liabilities recognized in the balance sheet that are associated with unfavorable contracts assumed in an acquisition of an entity as well as commitments for the acquired entity to continue to provide services to the seller of the acquired entity, for which the company will be paid by the seller of the acquired entity. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of economic incentives from various state and local taxing authorities not included in income tax expense related to capital expansion projects. Such amounts are initially recorded as deferred credits and will be recognized as a reduction to expense over the economic lives of the related capital expansion projects.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The noncurrent portion as of the balance sheet date of deferred income recorded in connection with the formation of a joint venture which is not expected to be recognized in the next twelve months. The Company contributed certain contractual rights and intellectual property to a joint venture for which it had no cost basis. The joint venture partner then paid the Company for its ownership interest in the joint venture. The transaction was not the culmination of an earnings event and therefore the consideration received was recorded as deferred income to be recognized/amortized over the estimated remainig lives of the underlying programs assigned to the joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet or individually material enough to disclose separately. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=wwd_LossReserveOnContractualLeaseCommitmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: