Segment and Geographic Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Brooks Product Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany sales	$ 49.2	$ 62.9	$ 11.2
Contract Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intercompany sales	$ 10.7	$ 12.5	$ 1.6

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration