v2.4.0.6

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements (Tables) | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] |
Company's Borrowings | The Company’s borrowings consisted of the following:
|  | March 30, 2013 |  |  | September 29, 2012 |
Current debt obligations, net of debt discount: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Convertible Notes |  | $ | 389,139 |  |  | $ | — |
Term Loan A |  |  | 49,676 |  |  |  | 49,582 |
Term Loan B |  |  | 14,862 |  |  |  | 14,853 |
Total current debt obligations |  |  | 453,677 |  |  |  | 64,435 |
Long-term debt obligations, net of debt discount: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term Loan A |  |  | 919,029 |  |  |  | 942,065 |
Term Loan B |  |  | 1,463,907 |  |  |  | 1,470,454 |
Senior Notes |  |  | 1,000,000 |  |  |  | 1,000,000 |
Convertible Notes |  |  | 1,168,083 |  |  |  | 1,558,660 |
Total long-term debt obligations |  |  | 4,551,019 |  |  |  | 4,971,179 |
Total debt obligations |  | $ | 5,004,696 |  |  | $ | 5,035,614 |
Convertible Notes and Related Equity Components | The Convertible Notes and related equity components (recorded in additional paid-in-capital, net of deferred taxes) consisted of the following:
|  | March 30, 2013 |  |  | September 29, 2012 |
2007 Notes principal amount |  | $ | 405,000 |  |  | $ | 775,000 |
Unamortized discount |  |  | (15,861 | ) |  |  | (50,591 | )
Net carrying amount |  | $ | 389,139 |  |  | $ | 724,409 |
Equity component, net of taxes |  | $ | 121,946 |  |  | $ | 233,353 |
2010 Notes principal amount |  | $ | 450,000 |  |  | $ | 450,000 |
Unamortized discount |  |  | (66,314 | ) |  |  | (74,062 | )
Net carrying amount |  | $ | 383,686 |  |  | $ | 375,938 |
Equity component, net of taxes |  | $ | 60,054 |  |  | $ | 60,054 |
2012 Notes principal amount |  | $ | 500,000 |  |  | $ | 500,000 |
Unamortized discount |  |  | (38,221 | ) |  |  | (41,687 | )
Net carrying amount |  | $ | 461,779 |  |  | $ | 458,313 |
Equity component, net of taxes |  | $ | 49,195 |  |  | $ | 49,195 |
2013 Notes principal amount |  | $ | 370,000 |  |  | $ | — |
Principal accretion |  |  | 1,789 |  |  |  | — |
Unamortized discount |  |  | (49,171 | ) |  |  | — |
Net carrying amount |  | $ | 322,618 |  |  | $ | — |
Equity component, net of taxes |  | $ | 131,451 |  |  | $ | — |
Interest Expense Under Convertible Notes | Interest expense under the Convertible Notes was as follows:
|  | Three Months Ended |  |  | Six Months Ended |
|  | March 30, 2013 |  |  | March 24, 2012 |  |  | March 30, 2013 |  |  | March 24, 2012 |
Amortization of debt discount |  | $ | 13,621 |  |  | $ | 17,946 |  |  | $ | 29,265 |  |  | $ | 36,899 |
Amortization of deferred financing costs |  |  | 790 |  |  |  | 975 |  |  |  | 1,698 |  |  |  | 1,982 |
Principal accretion |  |  | 1,789 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1,789 |  |  |  | — |
Non-cash interest expense |  |  | 16,200 |  |  |  | 18,921 |  |  |  | 32,752 |  |  |  | 38,881 |
2.00% accrued interest |  |  | 8,616 |  |  |  | 8,567 |  |  |  | 17,226 |  |  |  | 17,145 |
|  | $ | 24,816 |  |  | $ | 27,488 |  |  | $ | 49,978 |  |  | $ | 56,026 |

X
- Definition Schedule of the Company's outstanding obligations, current and long-term. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_CompanyBorrowingsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Schedule Of Convertible Notes And Related Equity Components (Recorded In Capital In Excess Of Par Value, Net Of Deferred Taxes) [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_ScheduleOfConvertibleNotesAndRelatedEquityComponentsRecordedInCapitalInExcessOfParValueNetOfDeferredTaxesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Schedule of interest expense under convertible notes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_ScheduleOfInterestExpenseUnderConvertibleNotesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration