CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Net sales:
Products	$ 704,941	$ 681,559	$ 661,904
Services	497,957	426,150	408,697
Total net sales	1,202,898	1,107,709	1,070,601
Costs and expenses:
Products	472,698	473,670	473,444
Services	362,694	305,653	293,033
Selling, general and administrative expenses	258,644	240,601	253,163
Research and development	52,398	52,652	31,976
Amortization of purchased intangibles	27,064	30,245	29,356
Restructuring costs	5,018	2,260	1,278
Total costs and expenses	1,178,516	1,105,081	1,082,250
Operating income (loss)	24,382	2,628	(11,649)
Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income	1,615	953	1,416
Interest expense	(10,424)	(15,027)	(11,199)
Pension settlement loss			(2,671)
Other income (expense), net	(687)	364	(2,334)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	14,886	(11,082)	(26,437)
Income tax (benefit) provision	7,093	14,658	(14,357)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	7,793	(25,740)	(12,080)
Net income from discontinued operations	4,243	14,531	13,815
Net income (loss)	12,036	(11,209)	1,735
Less noncontrolling interest in income of VIE	(274)
Net income (loss) attributable to Cubic	12,310	(11,209)	1,735
Amounts attributable to Cubic:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	8,067	(25,740)	(12,080)
Net income from discontinued operations	4,243	14,531	13,815
Net income (loss) attributable to Cubic	$ 12,310	$ (11,209)	$ 1,735
Basic
Continuing operations attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ (0.95)	$ (0.45)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.16	0.54	0.51
Basic earnings per share attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	0.45	(0.41)	0.06
Diluted
Continuing operations attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	0.29	(0.95)	(0.45)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.16	0.54	0.51
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ (0.41)	$ 0.06
Weighted average shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	27,229	27,106	26,976
Diluted (in shares)	27,351	27,106	26,976