Financial Information for Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	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
Gross profit (loss)	223,021	166,295	(5,996)
Segment operating income (loss)	79,597	47,007	(228,028)
Depreciation	12,600	14,600	15,600
Assets	636,620	518,224
Brooks Product Solutions
Revenues
Product	451,287	362,524	132,337
Total revenues	451,287	362,524	132,337
Gross profit (loss)	171,801	128,479	15,140
Segment operating income (loss)	64,921	40,143	(70,326)
Depreciation	8,597	9,465	8,979
Assets	235,322	227,408	183,861
Brooks Global Services
Revenues
Product	14,786	13,740	7,557
Services	74,058	61,165	51,447
Total revenues	88,844	74,905	59,004
Gross profit (loss)	31,750	20,354	6,478
Segment operating income (loss)	13,293	3,805	(10,227)
Depreciation	2,481	2,843	3,841
Assets	52,354	53,564	57,151
Brooks Life Science Systems
Revenues
Product	7,715
Services	2,930
Total revenues	10,645
Gross profit (loss)	2,260
Segment operating income (loss)	(4,684)
Depreciation	543
Assets	101,331
Contract Manufacturing
Revenues
Product	137,329	155,543	27,365
Total revenues	137,329	155,543	27,365
Gross profit (loss)	17,210	17,462	(6,690)
Segment operating income (loss)	10,649	8,335	(16,128)
Depreciation	1,000	2,255	2,822
Assets		57,024	24,462
Operating Segments, Total
Revenues
Product	611,117	531,807	167,259
Services	76,988	61,165	51,447
Total revenues	688,105	592,972	218,706
Gross profit (loss)	223,021	166,295	14,928
Segment operating income (loss)	84,179	52,283	(96,681)
Depreciation	12,621	14,563	15,642
Assets	$ 389,007	$ 337,996	$ 265,474