Consolidated Income Statements (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Consolidated Income Statements [Abstract]
Sales	$ 2,414.5us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 2,581.9us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 4,975.3us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 5,127.4us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Cost of sales	1,699.6us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	1,917.6us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	3,530.6us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	3,783.5us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold
Selling and administrative	240.9	263.4	499.1	544.3
Research and development	36.3us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	33.2us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	71.7us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	66.7us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Business restructuring and cost reduction actions	55.4	0	87.8	0
Pension settlement loss	12.6	0	12.6	0
Gain on previously held equity interest	0	0	17.9	0
Other income (expense), net	4.7apd_OtherIncomeExpenseNet	17.0apd_OtherIncomeExpenseNet	13.0apd_OtherIncomeExpenseNet	37.4apd_OtherIncomeExpenseNet
Operating Income	374.4us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	384.7us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	804.4us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	770.3us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Equity affiliates' income	33.0	30.4	76.1	68.6
Interest expense	23.4us-gaap_InterestExpense	31.5us-gaap_InterestExpense	52.5us-gaap_InterestExpense	64.8us-gaap_InterestExpense
Income from Continuing Operations before Taxes	384.0	383.6	828.0	774.1
Income tax provision	87.1us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	92.1us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	193.6us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	186.6us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income from Continuing Operations	296.9	291.5	634.4	587.5
Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax	0	0	0	3.1
Net Income	296.9us-gaap_ProfitLoss	291.5us-gaap_ProfitLoss	634.4us-gaap_ProfitLoss	590.6us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	6.9	8.0	19.8	16.9
Net Income Attributable to Air Products	290.0us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	283.5us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	614.6us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	573.7us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Net Income Attributable to Air Products
Income from continuing operations	290.0	283.5	614.6	570.6
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	3.1
Net Income Attributable to Air Products	$ 290.0us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 283.5us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 614.6us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 573.7us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Basic Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Air Products
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.35	$ 1.33	$ 2.87	$ 2.69
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.01
Net Income Attributable to Air Products	$ 1.35us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 1.33us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 2.87us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 2.7us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to Air Products
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.33	$ 1.32	$ 2.83	$ 2.66
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.01
Net Income Attributable to Air Products	$ 1.33us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 1.32us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 2.83us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 2.67us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Weighted Average Common Shares - Basic (in millions)	214.9	212.4	214.5	212.1
Weighted Average Common Shares - Diluted (in millions)	217.4	214.9	217.0	214.6
Dividends Declared Per Common Share - Cash	$ 0.81	$ 0.77	$ 1.58	$ 1.48

Items which arise from transactions and events not directly related to the company's principal income earnings activities. Composed of income and expense activity that is secondary to the company's main business pursuits and includes, for example: Technology and royalty income, Interest income, Foreign exchange (gain)/loss, (Gain)/loss on the sale or disposal of assets/investments, and Insurance settlements, net of related expenses.

No definition available.