Debt - Summary of Debt (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 6.625% Senior Notes, due November 15, 2022	Sep. 30, 2014 HGI	Sep. 30, 2013 HGI	Sep. 30, 2014 HGI 7.875% Senior Secured Notes, due July 15, 2019	Sep. 30, 2013 HGI 7.875% Senior Secured Notes, due July 15, 2019	Dec. 31, 2012 HGI 7.875% Senior Secured Notes, due July 15, 2019	Sep. 30, 2013 HGI 10.625% Senior Secured Notes, due November 15, 2015	Dec. 31, 2012 HGI 10.625% Senior Secured Notes, due November 15, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014 HGI Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	Sep. 11, 2014 HGI Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	May 30, 2014 HGI Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	May 14, 2014 HGI Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	Jan. 21, 2014 HGI Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HGI Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Spectrum Brands Term Loan Due September 4, 2019	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands Term Loan Due September 4, 2019	Dec. 31, 2012 Spectrum Brands Former term loan facility	Sep. 30, 2014 Spectrum Brands 6.75% Senior Notes, due March 15, 2020	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands 6.75% Senior Notes, due March 15, 2020	Mar. 31, 2012 Spectrum Brands 6.75% Senior Notes, due March 15, 2020	Sep. 30, 2014 Spectrum Brands 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020	Dec. 31, 2012 Spectrum Brands 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020	Sep. 30, 2014 Spectrum Brands 6.625% Senior Notes, due November 15, 2022	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands 6.625% Senior Notes, due November 15, 2022	Dec. 31, 2012 Spectrum Brands 6.625% Senior Notes, due November 15, 2022	Sep. 30, 2014 Spectrum Brands ABL Facility, expiring May 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands ABL Facility, expiring May 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2014 Spectrum Brands Other notes and obligations	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands Other notes and obligations	Sep. 30, 2014 Spectrum Brands Capitalized lease obligations	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands Capitalized lease obligations	Sep. 30, 2014 FGLH 6.375% Senior Notes, Due April 1, 2021	Sep. 30, 2013 FGLH 6.375% Senior Notes, Due April 1, 2021	Sep. 30, 2014 Compass EXCO/HGI JV Credit Agreement, due February 14, 2018	Sep. 30, 2013 Compass EXCO/HGI JV Credit Agreement, due February 14, 2018	Sep. 30, 2014 Salus Capital Partners LLC Unaffiliated long-term debt of consolidated variable-interest entity	Sep. 30, 2013 Salus Capital Partners LLC Unaffiliated long-term debt of consolidated variable-interest entity	Sep. 30, 2014 Salus Capital Partners LLC Secured Borrowings Related to non-qualifying participating loan interests [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Salus Capital Partners LLC Secured Borrowings Related to non-qualifying participating loan interests [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 United States of America, Dollars Spectrum Brands Term Loan Due December 17, 2019	Dec. 18, 2013 United States of America, Dollars Spectrum Brands Term Loan Due December 17, 2019	Sep. 30, 2013 United States of America, Dollars Spectrum Brands Term Loan Due December 17, 2019	Sep. 30, 2014 Euro Member Countries, Euro Spectrum Brands Euro Term Loan, Due September 4, 2019 [Member]	Dec. 18, 2013 Euro Member Countries, Euro Spectrum Brands Euro Term Loan, Due September 4, 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Euro Member Countries, Euro Spectrum Brands Euro Term Loan, Due September 4, 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Canada, Dollars Spectrum Brands Term Loan Due December 17, 2019	Sep. 30, 2013 Canada, Dollars Spectrum Brands Term Loan Due December 17, 2019	Sep. 30, 2014 Compass Credit Agreement Compass EXCO/HGI JV Credit Agreement, due February 14, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2014
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	$ 1,470.9			$ 604.4
Long-term debt	5,194.5	4,909.7		1,354.4	924.2		925.0			498.0	750.0	200.0	550.0	0	200.0		648.4	850.0	370.2	300.0	300.0		520.0	520.0		570.0	570.0		0	0	36.6	28.5	94.7	67.4	300.0	300.0			193.0	182.9	106.8		0	513.3	513.3	283.3	225.0	0	34.2	81.4
Line of cedit, amount outstanding																																						271.2													243.2
Long-term debt, interest rate			6.625%			7.90%	0.00%	7.875%		10.625%	7.75%						3.00%	3.00%		6.80%	6.80%	6.75%	6.375%	6.40%	6.375%	6.625%	6.60%	6.625%	2.50%	5.70%	8.80%	8.50%	6.10%	6.20%	6.375%	0.00%	2.70%	0.00%	6.70%	0.00%	10.80%		0.00%		4.60%	3.80%		0.00%	5.10%	5.10%
Original issuance (discounts) premiums on debt, net	(36.7)	(13.6)
Total Debt	5,157.8	4,896.1		1,325.0
Less current maturities	(96.7)	(102.9)
Non-current portion of debt	$ 5,061.1	$ 4,793.2