Segment Information (Summary of Consolidated Total Assets, Depreciation and Amortization, and Capital Expenditures by Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated total assets	$ 3,956,526	$ 3,790,649		$ 2,757,109	$ 3,933,471
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,058,775	1,060,005			1,060,005
Other assets	198,517	85,144	[1],[2],[3]		$ 171,009	[1],[2],[3]
Depreciation and amortization	142,004	116,131		80,917
Capital expenditures	99,066	127,140		92,336
Unallocated Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	114,887	102,083		104,755
Other assets	379,541	240,212		234,301
Depreciation and amortization	10,121	9,608		9,219
Capital expenditures	12,346	11,673		17,335
Aerospace [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated total assets	1,900,657	1,805,892		1,722,789
Depreciation and amortization	60,710	54,828		47,277
Capital expenditures	56,525	98,358		62,812
Industrial [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated total assets	1,561,441	1,642,462		695,264
Depreciation and amortization	71,173	51,695		24,421
Capital expenditures	$ 30,195	$ 17,109		$ 12,189

[1] The adoption of ASC 606 changed the revenue recognition practices for a number of revenue generating activities across Woodward’s businesses, although the most significant impacts are concentrated in product being produced for customers that have no alternative use to Woodward and Woodward has an enforceable right to payment with a profit, and MRO. The revenue related to these activities, which previously was accounted for on a point in time basis, is now required to use an over time model because the associated contracts meet one or more of the mandatory criteria established in ASC 606, as described above, and are included as current unbilled receivables in “Accounts receivable” and noncurrent unbilled receivables in “Other assets.” The change in the timing of revenue recognized in connection with over time contracts similarly changed the timing of manufacturing cost recognition and certain engineering and development costs, which are reflected as a reduction to inventory.

[2] The value of noncash consideration in the form of exchanged products and other customer provided inventory is reflected in “Inventories,” and in contract liabilities, which are included in “Accrued liabilities.”

[3] Woodward recorded customer funding of product engineering and development identified as material rights as current and noncurrent deferred revenue contract liabilities included in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other liabilities.” The related customer funded product engineering and development costs were capitalized as costs to fulfill a contract, to the extent of the contractually committed customer funded payments, and are recorded as “Other assets.”