FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	NOTE 2 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS The carrying values of cash and equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts and notes payable and revolving credit debt approximate fair value due to either the short-term nature of such instruments or the fact that the interest rate of the revolving credit debt is based upon current market rates. The fair values of Griffon’s 2018 senior notes and 2017 4% convertible notes approximated $594,000 and $106,900, respectively, on June 30, 2013. Fair values were based upon quoted market prices (level 1 inputs). Insurance contracts and trading securities with values of $3,922 and $2,198 at June 30, 2013, respectively, are measured and recorded at fair value based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1 inputs). Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis At June 30, 2013, Griffon had $1,000 of Australian dollar contracts at a weighted average rate of $1.09. The contracts, which protect Australia operations from currency fluctuations for U.S. dollar based purchases, do not qualify for hedge accounting and a fair value gain of $135 and $122 was recorded in Other assets and to Other income for the outstanding contracts, based on similar contract values (level 2 inputs), for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. All contracts expire in 15 to 60 days. In the normal course of business, Griffon’s operations are exposed to the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In order to manage these risks, Griffon may enter into various derivative contracts such as foreign currency exchange contracts, including forwards and options. During the second and third quarters of 2013, Clopay Europe and Clopay Plastics entered into forward exchange contracts to receive $3,375 USD and $1,313 USD at the fixed exchange rate of 1.35 USD/EUR and 1.31 USD/EUR on April 3, 2013 and July 2, 2013, respectively. These contracts were created in order to lock into a foreign currency rate for a planned settlement of inter-company liabilities payable in USD. At inception, the hedges were deemed effective as cash flow hedges with gains and losses related to changes in fair value deferred and recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) and Prepaid and other current assets until settlement. Upon settlement, gains and losses are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) as Other income. A gain of $171 was recorded in Other income in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. Amounts recorded as Prepaid and other current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet were $13 and 0 as of June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively, for the fair value of these contracts, based on similar contract values (level 2 inputs).

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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