CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Revenues
Product	$ 95,493	$ 117,621	$ 172,816	$ 214,719
Services	21,126	21,716	41,828	44,846
Total revenues	116,619	139,337	214,644	259,565
Cost of revenues
Product	64,154	75,443	118,635	139,732
Services	15,853	15,612	30,239	31,194
Total cost of revenues	80,007	91,055	148,874	170,926
Gross profit	36,612	48,282	65,770	88,639
Operating expenses
Research and development	12,030	12,529	23,548	24,478
Selling, general and administrative	24,785	24,270	50,732	51,012
Restructuring and other charges	769	42	5,526	245
In-process research and development	0	3,026	0	3,026
Total operating expenses	37,584	39,867	79,806	78,761
Operating income (loss)	(972)	8,415	(14,036)	9,878
Interest income	265	273	540	552
Interest expense	0	0	(1)	(7)
Other income (expense), net	77	(51)	(16)	295
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	(630)	8,637	(13,513)	10,718
Income tax benefit	(129)	(659)	(3,799)	(359)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	(501)	9,296	(9,714)	11,077
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	(10)	430	(16)	1,480
Net income (loss)	(511)	9,726	(9,730)	12,557
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(27)	(5)	(44)	(13)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	$ (538)	$ 9,721	$ (9,774)	$ 12,544
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders (USD per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.15	$ (0.15)	$ 0.19
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders (USD per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.15	$ (0.15)	$ 0.19
Shares used in computing earnings (loss) per share
Basic (shares)	65,889	65,038	65,726	64,925
Diluted (shares)	65,889	65,828	65,726	65,552