Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Air Products Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance, beginning of period at Sep. 30, 2009	$ 4,930.0	$ 249.4	$ 822.9	$ 7,234.6	$ (1,161.8)	$ (2,353.2)	$ 4,791.9	$ 138.1
Net Income	1,054.5			1,029.1			1,029.1	25.4
Other comprehensive income (loss)	4.2				2.4		2.4	1.8
Share-based compensation expense	48.6		48.6				48.6
Issuance of treasury shares for stock option and award plans	79.7		(76.0)			155.7	79.7
Tax benefit of stock option and award plans	35.0		35.0				35.0
Cash Dividends	(408.4)			(408.4)			(408.4)
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(18.7)							(18.7)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(39.1)		(28.3)				(28.3)	(10.8)
Contribution from noncontrolling interests	14.7							14.7
Other	(2.9)			(3.1)			(3.1)	0.2
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2010	5,697.6	249.4	802.2	7,852.2	(1,159.4)	(2,197.5)	5,546.9	150.7
Net Income	1,261.5			1,224.2			1,224.2	37.3
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(89.7)				(94.0)		(94.0)	4.3
Share-based compensation expense	44.8		44.8				44.8
Purchase of treasury shares	(649.2)					(649.2)	(649.2)
Issuance of treasury shares for stock option and award plans	142.8		(98.6)			241.4	142.8
Tax benefit of stock option and award plans	63.7		63.7				63.7
Cash Dividends	(473.8)			(473.8)			(473.8)
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(31.4)							(31.4)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(6.1)		(6.1)				(6.1)
Contribution from noncontrolling interests	1.4							1.4
Other	(22.9)		(0.4)	(3.1)			(3.5)	(19.4)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2011	5,938.7	249.4	805.6	8,599.5	(1,253.4)	(2,605.3)	5,795.8	142.9
Net Income	1,195.7			1,167.3			1,167.3	28.4
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(90.5)				(95.4)		(95.4)	4.9
Share-based compensation expense	43.4		43.4				43.4
Purchase of treasury shares	(53.1)					(53.1)	(53.1)
Issuance of treasury shares for stock option and award plans	115.4		(74.6)			190.0	115.4
Tax benefit of stock option and award plans	38.6		38.6				38.6
Cash Dividends	(529.0)			(529.0)			(529.0)
Indura business combination	14.8							14.8
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(26.7)							(26.7)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(6.3)		(4.4)				(4.4)	(1.9)
Other	(17.7)		1.9	(3.3)			(1.4)	(16.3)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 6,623.3	$ 249.4	$ 810.5	$ 9,234.5	$ (1,348.8)	$ (2,468.4)	$ 6,477.2	$ 146.1