Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock, Par Value $.20 Per Share	Additional Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Total Esterline Shareholders' Equity, Beginning of year at Oct. 02, 2015		$ 6,476	$ 682,479	$ (289,780)	$ 1,444,825	$ (308,828)
Shares issued under employee stock plans		37	6,669
Total Esterline Shareholders' Equity, End of year at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 1,595,291	6,513	703,134	(308,514)	1,542,778	(348,620)
Cumulative effect of accounting change			0		0	0
Share-based compensation expense			13,986
Shares repurchased				(18,734)
Cumulative effect of accounting change	0
Net earnings	97,953				97,953
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax	13,668					13,668
Change in pension and post-retirement obligations, net of tax	(10,593)					(10,593)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(42,867)					(42,867)
Noncontrolling Interests' Equity, Beginning of year at Oct. 02, 2015	10,324
Net changes in equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	250
Noncontrolling Interests, End of year at Sep. 30, 2016	10,574
Total Shareholders' Equity	1,605,865
Shares issued under employee stock plans		110	26,727
Total Esterline Shareholders' Equity, End of year at Sep. 29, 2017	1,824,755	6,623	738,329	(308,514)	1,655,187	(266,870)
Cumulative effect of accounting change			(855)		855	0
Share-based compensation expense			9,323
Shares repurchased				0
Cumulative effect of accounting change	0
Net earnings	111,554				111,554
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax	12,814					12,814
Change in pension and post-retirement obligations, net of tax	22,716					22,716
Foreign currency translation adjustment	46,220					46,220
Net changes in equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	(53)
Noncontrolling Interests, End of year at Sep. 29, 2017	10,521
Total Shareholders' Equity	1,835,276
Shares issued under employee stock plans		15	3,188
Total Esterline Shareholders' Equity, End of year at Sep. 28, 2018	1,831,843	$ 6,638	751,031	(351,964)	1,732,327	(306,189)
Cumulative effect of accounting change			0
Share-based compensation expense			$ 9,514
Shares repurchased	(43,400)			$ (43,450)
Cumulative effect of accounting change	(7,682)				7,682	(7,682)
Net earnings	69,458				$ 69,458
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax	(13,285)					(13,285)
Change in pension and post-retirement obligations, net of tax	20,144					20,144
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(38,496)					$ (38,496)
Net changes in equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	763
Noncontrolling Interests, End of year at Sep. 28, 2018	11,284
Total Shareholders' Equity	$ 1,843,127