Restructuring Costs - Restructuring charges (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Restructuring plan
Restructuring costs	$ 5,400	$ 1,690	$ 127	$ 1,615	$ 5,385
Unallocated corporate expenses and other
Restructuring plan
Restructuring costs			100		600
Cubic Transportation Systems
Restructuring plan
Restructuring costs		$ 800	100	1,000	500
Reduction in employee headcount | item		20
Cubic Global Defense Systems
Restructuring plan
Restructuring costs		$ 500	(200)	100	4,000
Cubic Mission Solutions
Restructuring plan
Restructuring costs		900
Cubic Global Defense Services
Restructuring plan
Restructuring costs		$ 400	$ 100	$ 500	$ 300