Segment and Geographic Information - Financial Information for Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue
Product	$ 362,404	$ 431,961	$ 611,117
Services	88,548	87,490	76,988
Total revenues	450,952	519,451	688,105
Gross profit	145,982	173,486	223,021
Segment operating income (loss)	(9,019)	9,561	79,597
Depreciation	14,000	13,400	12,600
Assets	736,763	741,960
Brooks Product Solutions
Revenue
Product	317,916	380,888	451,287
Services	0	0	0
Total revenues	317,916	380,888	451,287
Gross profit	104,350	127,472	171,801
Segment operating income (loss)	8,509	21,319	64,921
Depreciation	9,022	8,952	8,597
Assets	254,424	218,799	235,322
Brooks Global Services
Revenue
Product	13,152	11,324	14,786
Services	76,596	74,628	74,058
Total revenues	89,748	85,952	88,844
Gross profit	27,492	25,599	31,750
Segment operating income (loss)	10,172	9,404	13,293
Depreciation	2,746	2,344	2,481
Assets	59,875	56,120	52,354
Brooks Life Science Systems
Revenue
Product	31,336	39,749	7,715
Services	11,952	12,862	2,930
Total revenues	43,288	52,611	10,645
Gross profit	14,140	20,415	2,260
Segment operating income (loss)	(12,380)	(3,139)	(4,684)
Depreciation	2,256	2,111	543
Assets	105,221	107,530	101,331
Contract Manufacturing
Revenue
Product	0	0	137,329
Services	0	0	0
Total revenues	0	0	137,329
Gross profit	0	0	17,210
Segment operating income (loss)	0	0	10,649
Depreciation	0	0	1,000
Assets	0	0	0
Operating Segments, Total
Revenue
Product	362,404	431,961	611,117
Services	88,548	87,490	76,988
Total revenues	450,952	519,451	688,105
Gross profit	145,982	173,486	223,021
Segment operating income (loss)	6,301	27,584	84,179
Depreciation	14,024	13,407	12,621
Assets	$ 419,520	$ 382,449	$ 389,007