CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Revenues
Product	$ 611,117	$ 531,807	$ 167,259
Services	76,988	61,165	51,447
Total revenues	688,105	592,972	218,706
Cost of revenues
Product	411,610	377,466	155,231
Services	53,474	49,211	48,547
Total cost of revenues	465,084	426,677	224,702
Impairment of long-lived assets			35,512
Gross profit (loss)	223,021	166,295	(5,996)
Operating expenses
Research and development	39,846	31,162	31,607
Selling, general and administrative	102,542	85,597	91,231
Impairment of goodwill			71,800
Restructuring charges	1,036	2,529	12,806
Total operating expenses	143,424	119,288	222,032
Impairment of long-lived assets			35,512
Operating income (loss)	79,597	47,007	(228,028)
Interest income	1,153	1,121	2,719
Interest expense	(65)	(80)	(454)
Gain on sale of intellectual property rights		7,840
Gain on sale of contract manufacturing business	45,009
Loss on investment		(191)	(1,185)
Other income, net	1,882	367	31
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	127,576	56,064	(226,917)
Income tax provision (benefit)	1,954	(2,746)	643
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	125,622	58,810	(227,560)
Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures	2,782	215	(213)
Net income (loss)	128,404	59,025	(227,773)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(52)	(43)	(85)
Net income (loss) attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc.	128,352	58,982	(227,858)
Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 1.99	$ 0.92	$ (3.62)
Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Brooks Automation, Inc. common stockholders	$ 1.97	$ 0.92	$ (3.62)
Shares used in computing earnings (loss) per share
Basic	64,549	63,777	62,911
Diluted	65,003	64,174	62,911
Cost of Sales
Cost of revenues
Impairment of long-lived assets			20,924
Operating expenses
Impairment of long-lived assets			20,924
Operating Expense
Cost of revenues
Impairment of long-lived assets			14,588
Operating expenses
Impairment of long-lived assets			$ 14,588