Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013 CeligoCell Cytometer product line	Dec. 30, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line Completed technology	Dec. 30, 2011 CeligoCell Cytometer product line Trademarks and trade names	Oct. 29, 2012 Crossing Automation Inc Completed technology	Oct. 29, 2012 Crossing Automation Inc Customer relationships	Aug. 01, 2013 Matrical Completed technology	Aug. 01, 2013 Matrical Customer relationships	Sep. 30, 2013 Brooks Life Science Systems	Sep. 30, 2012 Brooks Life Science Systems	Sep. 30, 2011 Brooks Life Science Systems	Sep. 30, 2013 Brooks Product Solutions	Oct. 29, 2012 Brooks Product Solutions	Sep. 30, 2012 Brooks Product Solutions	Sep. 30, 2011 Brooks Product Solutions	Sep. 30, 2013 Brooks Global Services	Oct. 29, 2012 Brooks Global Services	Sep. 30, 2012 Brooks Global Services	Sep. 30, 2011 Brooks Global Services	Sep. 30, 2013 Minimum	Sep. 30, 2013 Maximum
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]
Impairment loss	$ 1,960,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,960,000
Percentage of fair value in excess of carrying amount											0.10											0.18	1.14
Discount rate used in discounted cash flow analysis											18.00%
Revenue multiple used in terminal value calculation											0.03
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	614,958,000	614,958,000	614,958,000	1,960,000							0	0	0	437,706,000		437,706,000	437,706,000	151,238,000		151,238,000	151,238,000
Identifiable intangible assets					3,540,000	70,000	10,530,000	20,010,000	500,000	1,500,000					24,600,000				5,900,000
Amortization expense for intangible assets	$ 10,100,000	$ 8,200,000	$ 4,600,000