Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 1,193.3	$ 1,261.5	$ 1,054.5
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	26.0	37.3	25.4
Net Income Attributable to Air Products	1,167.3	1,224.2	1,029.1
Income from discontinued operations	(168.1)	(89.9)	(87.5)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Air Products	999.2	1,134.3	941.6
Adjustments to reconcile income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	840.8	834.3	826.8
Deferred income taxes	65.2	185.7	89.1
Benefit from Spanish tax ruling	(58.3)	0	0
Gain on previously held equity interest	(85.9)	0	0
Undistributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(53.6)	(47.5)	(50.6)
Gain on sale of assets and investments	(8.4)	(14.6)	(16.4)
Share-based compensation	43.8	44.8	48.6
Noncurrent capital lease receivables	(282.5)	(272.5)	(85.6)
Net loss on Airgas transaction	0	48.5	96.0
Payment of Airgas acquisition-related costs	0	(156.2)	(12.0)
Write-down of long-lived assets associated with restructuring/customer bankruptcy	80.2	0	0
Other adjustments	124.5	68.2	10.1
Working capital changes that provided (used) cash, excluding effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Trade receivables	(55.1)	(53.8)	(104.9)
Inventories	1.3	(107.5)	(62.9)
Contracts in progress, less progress billings	(42.9)	16.7	(33.9)
Other receivables	(18.3)	8.0	35.2
Payables and accrued liabilities	249.7	(29.8)	(281.3)
Other working capital	(34.6)	51.8	85.2
Cash Provided by Operating Activities	1,765.1	1,710.4	1,485.0
Investing Activities
Additions to plant and equipment	(1,521.0)	(1,309.3)	(988.7)
Acquisitions, less cash acquired	(863.4)	(10.8)	(37.2)
Investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates	(175.4)	(45.8)	(4.8)
Investment in Airgas stock	0	0	(69.6)
Proceeds from sale of Airgas stock	0	94.7	0
Proceeds from sale of assets and investments	52.5	81.6	52.4
Change in restricted cash	76.1	19.8	33.6
Other investing activities	(4.0)	0	0
Cash Used for Investing Activities	(2,435.2)	(1,169.8)	(1,014.3)
Financing Activities
Long-term debt proceeds	900.4	409.8	226.2
Payments on long-term debt	(490.6)	(187.1)	(436.4)
Net increase (decrease) in commercial paper and short-term borrowings	9.8	234.3	(74.2)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(514.9)	(456.7)	(398.7)
Purchase of treasury shares	(53.1)	(649.2)	0
Proceeds from stock option exercises	124.3	148.2	88.1
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation	31.0	47.6	23.9
Payment for subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests	(58.4)	0	0
Other financing activities	(26.9)	(31.5)	(8.2)
Cash Used for Financing Activities	(78.4)	(484.6)	(579.3)
Discontinued Operations
Cash provided by operating activities	33.6	42.8	37.4
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities	765.4	(42.4)	(42.2)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	0	0.1	(0.4)
Cash Provided by (Used for) Discontinued Operations	799.0	0.5	(5.2)
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash	(18.6)	(8.3)	(0.1)
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Items	31.9	48.2	(113.9)
Cash and Cash Items - Beginning of Year	422.5	374.3	488.2
Cash and Cash Items - End of Period	454.4	422.5	374.3
Less: Cash and Cash Items - Discontinued Operations	0	1.1	0.6
Cash and Cash Items - Continuing Operations	454.4	421.4	373.7
Significant noncash transactions:
Short-term borrowings associated with SAGA acquisition	0	0	60.9
Noncurrent liability related to the purchase of shares from noncontrolling interests	$ 0	$ 0	$ 42.0