Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Sep. 28, 2018		Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	[1]	$ 2,034,839		$ 2,000,304	$ 1,993,453
Cost of Sales		1,368,531		1,340,259	1,331,573
Gross Profit		666,308		660,045	661,880
Expenses
Selling, general & administrative		387,231		374,981	396,548
Research, development and engineering		90,869		109,778	99,710
Transaction costs		7,192		0	0
License fee income		(5,293)		0	0
Loss on sale of business		3,730		0	0
Restructuring charges		0		0	4,873
Insurance recovery		0		(7,789)	(5,000)
Total Expenses		483,729		476,970	496,131
Operating Earnings from Continuing Operations		182,579		183,075	165,749
Interest Income		(1,912)		(527)	(367)
Interest Expense		30,915		30,208	30,091
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes		153,576		153,394	136,025
Income Tax Expense		83,827	[2]	33,025	21,857
Earnings from Continuing Operations Including Noncontrolling Interests		69,749		120,369	114,168
Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		(956)		(1,504)	(949)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax		68,793		118,865	113,219
Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Attributable to Esterline, Net of Tax		665		(7,311)	(15,266)
Net Earnings Attributable to Esterline		$ 69,458		$ 111,554	$ 97,953
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Basic:
Continuing operations		$ 2.33		$ 4.00	$ 3.84
Discontinued operations		0.02		(0.25)	(0.52)
Earnings Per Share		2.35		3.75	3.32
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Esterline - Diluted:
Continuing operations		2.32		3.96	3.80
Discontinued operations		0.02		(0.24)	(0.51)
Earnings Per Share		$ 2.34		$ 3.72	$ 3.29

[1] Based on country from which the sale originated and the sale was recorded.

[2] Includes the impact of the Act mainly in the first and fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.