Goodwill and Intangible Assets Components of Goodwill by Business Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross goodwill at beginning of period		$ 703,398
Less: aggregate impairment charges recorded		(614,958)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at beginning of period	88,440
Acquisitions and adjustments during the period	26,453
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at end of period	114,893
Brooks Product Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross goodwill at beginning of period		485,844
Less: aggregate impairment charges recorded		(437,706)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at beginning of period	48,138
Acquisitions and adjustments during the period	20,899
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at end of period	69,037
Brooks Global Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross goodwill at beginning of period		151,238
Less: aggregate impairment charges recorded		(151,238)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at beginning of period	0
Acquisitions and adjustments during the period	5,554
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at end of period	5,554
Brooks Life Science Systems
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross goodwill at beginning of period		40,302
Less: aggregate impairment charges recorded		0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at beginning of period	40,302
Acquisitions and adjustments during the period	0
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at end of period	40,302
Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Gross goodwill at beginning of period		26,014
Less: aggregate impairment charges recorded		(26,014)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at beginning of period	0
Acquisitions and adjustments during the period	0
Goodwill, less accumulated impairments at end of period	$ 0