Nature of the Business	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of the Business	1. Nature of the Business Brooks Automation, Inc. (“Brooks”, or the “Company”) is a leading provider of semiconductor manufacturing automation solutions and life science sample-based services and solutions worldwide. In the semiconductor manufacturing market, the Company has been a provider of precision robotics, integrated automation systems and services for more than 40 years. In the life sciences market, the Company applies its automation and cryogenics expertise to offer a full suite of sample-based services and products, including a full line of cold chain management solutions for handling and storing biological and chemical compound samples used in areas such as drug development, clinical research and advanced cell therapies. The Company is also a global provider of gene sequencing and gene synthesis services. The Company believes its leadership positions and its global support capability in each of these markets make it a valued business partner to the largest semiconductor capital equipment device makers, and pharmaceutical and life science research institutions in the world. The Company’s offerings are also applied to other adjacent technology and industrial markets, and the Company provides customer support services globally. Discontinued Operations In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its semiconductor cryogenics business to Edwards Vacuum LLC (a member of the Atlas Copco Group) (“Edwards”), (the “Disposition”). The Company determined that the semiconductor cryogenics business met the “held for sale” criteria and the “discontinued operations” criteria in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Boards (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205, Presentation of Financial Statements, (“FASB ASC 205”) as of September 30, 2018 (please refer to Note 3, “Discontinued Operations” for further information about the discontinued business). The Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements were restated for all periods presented to reflect the discontinuation of the semiconductor cryogenics business, in accordance with FASB ASC 205. The discussion in the notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise noted, relate solely to the Company's continuing operations. On July 1, 2019, we completed the sale of the semiconductor cryogenics business for $661.5 million, which excludes $6.3 million retained by Edwards at closing as a result of the initial net working capital adjustments. Net cash proceeds from the sale were $553.1 million, after deducting estimated taxes payable and closing costs, which remains subject to adjustment for the final determination of working capital and other items. In connection with the closing the parties entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Asset Purchase Agreement. As part of this amendment, liabilities assumed by Edwards were revised to include accounts payable related to the semiconductor cryogenics business. As of September 30, 2018, the Company has revised its accounts payable balance on a continuing operations basis to exclude accounts payable related to the semiconductor cryogenics business and revised its current liabilities held for sale balance to include accounts payable related to the semiconductor cryogenics business on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Accounts payable and total liabilities of the discontinued operation have also been revised in Note 3, “Discontinued Operations”. As of September 30, 2018 and 2017, the accounts payable balance related to the semiconductor cryogenics business was $11.1 million and $10.6 million, respectively. The Company has also revised these balances in previously reported historical periods in the event those periods are presented in any filings.

Nature of the Business

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Nature of the Business

Brooks Automation, Inc. (“Brooks”, or the “Company”) is a leading provider of semiconductor manufacturing automation solutions and life science sample-based services and solutions worldwide. In the semiconductor manufacturing market, the Company has been a provider of precision robotics, integrated automation systems and services for more than 40 years. In the life sciences market, the Company applies its automation and cryogenics expertise to offer a full suite of sample-based services and products, including a full line of cold chain management solutions for handling and storing biological and chemical compound samples used in areas such as drug development, clinical research and advanced cell therapies. The Company is also a global provider of gene sequencing and gene synthesis services. The Company believes its leadership positions and its global support capability in each of these markets make it a valued business partner to the largest semiconductor capital equipment device makers, and pharmaceutical and life science research institutions in the world. The Company’s offerings are also applied to other adjacent technology and industrial markets, and the Company provides customer support services globally.

Discontinued Operations

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its semiconductor cryogenics business to Edwards Vacuum LLC (a member of the Atlas Copco Group) (“Edwards”), (the “Disposition”). The Company determined that the semiconductor cryogenics business met the “held for sale” criteria and the “discontinued operations” criteria in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard Boards (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205, Presentation of Financial Statements, (“FASB ASC 205”) as of September 30, 2018 (please refer to Note 3, “Discontinued Operations” for further information about the discontinued business). The Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements were restated for all periods presented to reflect the discontinuation of the semiconductor cryogenics business, in accordance with FASB ASC 205. The discussion in the notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise noted, relate solely to the Company's continuing operations.

On July 1, 2019, we completed the sale of the semiconductor cryogenics business for $661.5 million, which excludes $6.3 million retained by Edwards at closing as a result of the initial net working capital adjustments. Net cash proceeds from the sale were $553.1 million, after deducting estimated taxes payable and closing costs, which remains subject to adjustment for the final determination of working capital and other items. In connection with the closing the parties entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Asset Purchase Agreement. As part of this amendment, liabilities assumed by Edwards were revised to include accounts payable related to the semiconductor cryogenics business. As of September 30, 2018, the Company has revised its accounts payable balance on a continuing operations basis to exclude accounts payable related to the semiconductor cryogenics business and revised its current liabilities held for sale balance to include accounts payable related to the semiconductor cryogenics business on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Accounts payable and total liabilities of the discontinued operation have also been revised in Note 3, “Discontinued Operations”. As of September 30, 2018 and 2017, the accounts payable balance related to the semiconductor cryogenics business was $11.1 million and $10.6 million, respectively. The Company has also revised these balances in previously reported historical periods in the event those periods are presented in any filings.