Segment Information Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Assets to Corresponding Consolidated Amounts (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 22, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment assets	$ 756,955us-gaap_Assets		$ 778,038us-gaap_Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	207,104us-gaap_Investments		245,456us-gaap_Investments
Deferred tax assets	88,466us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet		86,572us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Investments in joint ventures	27,027us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	2,500us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	28,944us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Other unallocated corporate net assets	1,907brks_OtherUnallocatedAssets		1,946brks_OtherUnallocatedAssets
Total assets	756,955us-gaap_Assets		778,038us-gaap_Assets
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment assets	432,451		415,120
Total assets	$ 432,451		$ 415,120

Other Unallocated Assets

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319

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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(h))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph h

-Article 7

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