EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income for basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Raymond James Financial, Inc.	$ 125,847	$ 113,463	$ 232,176	$ 239,759
Less allocation of earnings and dividends to participating securities	(313)	(371)	(549)	(823)
Net income attributable to RJF common shareholders	125,534	113,092	231,627	238,936
Income for diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Raymond James Financial, Inc.	125,847	113,463	232,176	239,759
Less allocation of earnings and dividends to participating securities	(309)	(364)	(541)	(803)
Net income attributable to RJF common shareholders	$ 125,538	$ 113,099	$ 231,635	$ 238,956
Common shares:
Average common shares in basic computation (in shares)	141,472	142,320	142,273	141,813
Dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and certain restricted stock units (in shares)	2,540	3,730	2,774	4,375
Average common shares used in diluted computation (in shares)	144,012	146,050	145,047	146,188
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89	$ 0.79	$ 1.63	$ 1.68
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.87	$ 0.77	$ 1.60	$ 1.64
Stock options and certain restricted stock units excluded from weighted-average diluted common shares because their effect would be antidilutive (in shares)	3,234	2,062	3,270	2,294
Participating securities [Abstract]
Participating securities (in shares)	362	472	350	493
Dividends paid to participating securities	$ 65	$ 81	$ 114	$ 159
Dividends per common share declared and paid [Abstract]
Dividends per common share - declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.18	$ 0.40	$ 0.36
Dividends per common share - paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.18	$ 0.38	$ 0.34