Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jun. 25, 2011	Jun. 26, 2010	Jun. 25, 2011	Jun. 26, 2010
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted	$ 7.96	$ 5.68	$ 6.23	$ 5.87
Percentage of forfeiture rate, minimum			0.00%
Percentage of forfeiture rate, maximum			5.00%
Stock Option [Member]
Number of stock options granted			2.2	2.8
Weighted average exercise price of stock options granted	$ 17.14	$ 15.65	$ 17.14	$ 15.65
Number of options outstanding	15.6		15.6
Weighted average exercise price of stock options outstanding	$ 16.98		$ 16.98
Percentage of vesting for stock granted to employees			20.00%
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 34.1		$ 34.1
Stock-based compensation, period of vest term granted to employees			five
Weighted average period of unrecognized stock-based compensation related to stock options			3.2
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Number of restricted stock units granted			1.2	1.3
Weighted average grant date fair value price of restricted stock units granted			$ 16.87	$ 15.62
Number of restricted stock units outstanding	3.1		3.1
Weighted average grant date fair value of RSU's outstanding	$ 15.67		$ 15.67
RSU, period of vest term granted to employees			four
Percentage of vesting for stock granted to employees			25.00%
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 35.7		$ 35.7
Weighted average period of unrecognized stock-based compensation related to RSUs			2.4
Cliff Vest [Member]
Stock-based compensation, period of vest term granted to employees			three

Represents the percentage of restricted stock units that vest annually per the terms of the typical restricted stock unit grant arrangement

Name:	holx_PercentageOfVestingForRestrictedStockUnitsGrantedToEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of stock options that vest annually per the terms of the typical stock option grant arrangement.

+ Details

Name:	holx_PercentageOfVestingForStockGrantedToEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees could acquire the underlying shares with respect to all outstanding stock options which are in the customized range of exercise prices.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceAtEndOfPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The quantity of shares issuable on restricted stock units awarded under the plan during the reporting period.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockUnitsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the weighted-average grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted during the period

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockUnitsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance under restricted stock units agreements awarded under the plan that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance-sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockUnitsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average grant date fair value of all outstanding restricted stock units as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockUnitsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePriceAtEndOfPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the estimated period of time over which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the equity-based payment award, which often is the vesting period. This period may be explicit or implicit based on the terms of the award, and may be presented in a variety of ways (for example, year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter of a year)

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockUnitsVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum forfeiture rate applied to equity awards issued to certain employee groups to determine stock-based compensation expense for the period. The rate is based on an analysis of historical employee exercise and terminations patterns.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationPercentageOfForfeitureRateMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum forfeiture rate applied to equity awards issued to certain employee groups to determine stock-based compensation expense for the period. The rate is based on an analysis of historical employee exercise and terminations patterns.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ShareBasedCompensationPercentageOfForfeitureRateMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average period to record the unrecognized compensation expense related RSUs.

+ Details

Name:	holx_WeightedAveragePeriodOfStockBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	holx
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, using a decimal to express in number of years.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the period of time over which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, which may be expressed in a variety of ways (for example, in years, month and year).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(d)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance on stock options awarded under the plan during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(d)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph c(1)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance under stock option agreements awarded under the plan that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including vested options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(a)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b(1)(b)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant