Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL FUEL GAS CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000070145
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		85,161,752
Entity Public Float			$ 4,142,887,000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No