Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2018
Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Selling, general, and administrative expenses include net foreign currency transaction losses		$ 1,018	$ 1,608		$ 651
Impairment loss, Goodwill		0
Asset impairment charges	$ 12,601	0	0		$ 0
Accounts receivable	591,529	591,529	432,003	[1],[2]		$ 567,671	[1],[2]
Other current assets	$ 55,691	55,691	$ 43,207			$ 43,053
Woodward L'Orange [Member]
Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges		$ 0

[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.”