v2.4.0.8

Business Combinations - Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011	Aug. 01, 2012 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member]	Jan. 06, 2011 Interlace Medical, Inc [Member]
Schedule Of Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation [Line Items]
Cash	$ 6,273			$ 3,967,866	$ 126,798
Deferred payment				1,655
Contingent consideration	525		86,600		86,600
Fair value of stock options exchanged		2,655		2,655
Total purchase price				$ 3,972,176	$ 213,398

X

- Definition

Aggregate fair value as of the acquisition date of potential payments under the contingent consideration arrangement, including cash and shares as applicable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationAtFairValueCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Business acquisition cost of acquired entity deferred payment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityDeferredPayment
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents fair value of stock options assumed attributable to pre-combination services, which is recorded as part of the cost to acquire an entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_BusinessAcquisitionCostRelatedToFairValueOfStockOptionsExchanged
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	holx_ScheduleOfBusinessAcquisitionsPurchasePriceAllocationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration