Supplemental Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Quarterly Financial Data
Net sales	$ 489,294	$ 438,467	$ 418,866	$ 365,075	$ 412,003	$ 356,367	$ 349,352	$ 339,308	$ 1,711,702	$ 1,457,030	$ 1,430,125
Gross margin	149,279	134,026	126,346	103,898	124,321	106,401	105,036	99,756
Earnings before income taxes	58,750	50,855	46,487	31,475	49,515	38,052	35,818	31,490	187,567	154,875	122,476
Net Earnings:
Net earnings attributable to Woodward	41,690	36,056	32,090	22,399	32,675	31,745	24,068	22,356	132,235	110,844	94,352
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest						$ 120	$ 108	$ 90	$ 0	$ 318	$ 64
Earnings per share attributable to Woodward:
Basic earnings per share attributable to Woodward	$ 0.61	$ 0.52	$ 0.47	$ 0.33	$ 0.48	$ 0.46	$ 0.35	$ 0.33	$ 1.92	$ 1.62	$ 1.39
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Woodward	$ 0.60	$ 0.51	$ 0.46	$ 0.32	$ 0.47	$ 0.45	$ 0.34	$ 0.32	$ 1.89	$ 1.59	$ 1.37
Dividend per share amount	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.27	$ 0.24	$ 0.24