v2.4.1.9

Segment Information (Revenue and Operating Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2015 segments		Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Number of operating and reportable segments	2pmtc_SegmentReportingNumberOfOperatingAndReportableSegments
Revenue	$ 325,442us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet			$ 324,925us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Operating income	37,631us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	[1]		54,871us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	[1]
Sales and marketing expenses	(87,607)pmtc_SellingAndMarketingExpensesIncludingAllocationOfRestructuringCharges	[1]		(84,710)pmtc_SellingAndMarketingExpensesIncludingAllocationOfRestructuringCharges	[1]
General and administrative expenses	(37,007)pmtc_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesIncludingAllocationOfRestructuringCharges	[1]		(31,279)pmtc_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesIncludingAllocationOfRestructuringCharges	[1]
Other income (expense), net	(3,224)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense			(1,753)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income before income taxes	34,407us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest			53,118us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Restructuring (credit) charge	(255)us-gaap_RestructuringCharges		26,800us-gaap_RestructuringCharges	1,067us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Segment Software Products
Revenue	246,991us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentSoftwareProductsMember			244,253us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentSoftwareProductsMember
Operating income	149,045us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentSoftwareProductsMember	[1]		158,238us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentSoftwareProductsMember	[1]
Restructuring (credit) charge				100us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentSoftwareProductsMember
Segment Services
Revenue	78,451us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentServicesMember			80,672us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentServicesMember
Operating income	13,200us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentServicesMember	[1]		12,622us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentServicesMember	[1]
Restructuring (credit) charge	300us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentServicesMember			200us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = pmtc_SegmentServicesMember
Sales and Marketing
Restructuring (credit) charge				500us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember
General and Administrative
Restructuring (credit) charge				300us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
Restructuring Plan 2013 Q3
Restructuring (credit) charge				$ 1,100us-gaap_RestructuringCharges / us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis = pmtc_RestructuringPlan2013Q3Member
[1] t

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Segment Reporting, Number of Operating and Reportable Segments

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- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

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Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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