v2.4.0.6

Sale of Makena - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 03, 2011 | Jan. 16, 2008 | Mar. 24, 2012 | Mar. 24, 2011 | Mar. 30, 2013 | Mar. 24, 2012
Sale Of Intellectual Property [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Transaction price of sale of intellectual property assets |  | $ 82,000,000 |  |  |  |
Amended transaction price as a result of executing amendment |  |  |  |  | 199,500,000 |
Amount received upon FDA approval | 12,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Gain on net of certain contingent legal fees and amounts due to inventor |  |  | 12,424,000 | 84,500,000 | 53,884,000 | 12,424,000
Scheduled amounts received |  |  | 12,500,000 |  |  |
Additional amounts to be received under the amended agreement |  |  |  |  | 95,000,000 |
Royalty on sales due | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |
Final payment received |  |  |  |  | 60,000,000 |
Previously received [Member] | Parent Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Of Intellectual Property [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Transaction price amounts received | $ 79,500,000 |  |  |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Of Intellectual Property [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Period sales price is due from FDA approval, months |  |  |  |  | 18 |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale Of Intellectual Property [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Period sales price is due from FDA approval, months |  |  |  |  | 30 |

X
- Definition Additional amount to be received over an eighteen to thirty month period after FDA approval depending on which one of two payment options selected by the buyer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_AdditionalAmountToBeReceivedInEighteenToThirtyMonthPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents total transaction price for the sale of certain intellectual property rights as a result of executing an amendment to the original agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_AmendedTransactionPriceAsResultOfExecutionOfAmendmentToOriginalAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount received upon FDA approval of the new drug application pursuant to the amended agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_AmountReceivedOnApproval
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents amounts received under the agreement and recognized in the statement of operations as a gain in the period received. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_AmountReceivedPerAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the period of time over which a portion of the sales price is due to the Company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_PeriodPortionOfSalesPriceDue
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Proceeds From Sale Of Rights And Intellectual Property + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_ProceedsFromSaleOfRightsAndIntellectualProperty
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The royalty rate on sales due to the Company for a pre-defined period dependent on the payment option selected by the buyer. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_RoyaltyOnSalesDue
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | holx_SaleOfIntellectualPropertyLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents amount of the transaction price received pursuant to the contractual requirements prior to FDA approval. This amount was recorded as a deferred gain within current liabilities and recorded into income upon FDA approval. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_TransactionPriceAmountsReceived
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Transaction price for the sale of the exclusive and worldwide rights to certain intellectual property rights. This amount represents the original sales price, which was subsequently adjusted by an amendment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | holx_TransactionPriceOfSaleOfIntellectualPropertyAssets
Namespace Prefix: | holx_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The excess or deficiency of net proceeds from sale in the period compared to carrying value of intangible assets as of consummation date of the sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7,9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (CON) -Number 6 -Paragraph 82, 83, 87 -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. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration