v2.4.0.6

Business Combinations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 24, 2012	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 24, 2012	Jan. 03, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013 Property, plant and equipment [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Land and buildings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Chindex Medical Limited [Member]	Aug. 01, 2012 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member] Minimum [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member] Maximum [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member] Developed technology [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member] Customer contract [Member]	Mar. 30, 2013 Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member] Trade names [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash paid per share									$ 82.75
Amount paid to shareholders									$ 3,800,000,000
Amount paid to equity award holders									169,000,000
Net debt obtained by the Company to finance the acquisition									3,480,000,000
Direct transaction costs incurred									34,300,000
Remaining fair value of stock options assumed to be recognized as compensation expense										23,200,000
Vesting period										3 years 6 months
Risk free interest rate	0.50%	0.70%	0.50%	0.70%						0.41%
Expected volatility										39.90%
Expected life										3 years 7 months 6 days
Dividend yield, rate										0.00%
Weighted average fair value of stock options, per share										$ 7.07
Adjustment to valuation of intangibles										2,000,000
Agreement to sell LIFECODES business to Immucor					85,000,000
Contingent payment of an additional amount based on future revenue results					10,000,000
Gain on the sale of LIFECODES business	900,000		900,000
Assets held-for-sale										2,200,000
Property and equipment	600,000		600,000
Discount rate used for cash flow projections													10.00%	12.00%
In-process Research and Development expense										227,000,000
In-process research and development, value											27,000,000	7,000,000
Total cost of completion of IPR&D projects										46,000,000
Discount rate										12.00%
Expected number of years for project completion										4 years
Finite-lived intangible assets, estimated useful life, years															12 years 6 months	13 years	11 years
Fair value adjustment to increase the carrying amount						107,900,000	70,600,000
Net purchase price								$ 4,500,000	$ 3,972,176,000

X

- Definition

Represent the amount of the adjustment to the intangible asset valuation upon completion of the valuation procedures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Business Acquisition Cash Paid To Equity Award Holders

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Business Acquisition Cash Paid To Shareholders

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Business Acquisition Fair Value Adjustments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_BusinessAcquisitionFairValueAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The discount rate used to present value the cash flow projections to estimate the fair value of the respective intangible assets and/or contingent consideration.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_CashFlowProjectionsDiscountedRate
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the cash paid to the shareholders of the acquired entity to acquire 100% of the outstanding common stock, and equity awards (less the respective exercise price of stock options, as applicable) pursuant to the terms of the acquisition agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_CashPaidPerShareBusinessCombination
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the potential receipt of additional cash consideration from the sale of a business unit based on certain performance measures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ContingentPaymentFromSaleOfBusinessUnit
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Debt obtained by the Company, net of discounts, to finance the acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_DebtToFinanceAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Discount Rate For In Process Research And Development Valuation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_DiscountRateForInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentValuation
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the estimated aggregate cost as of the balance sheet date to be incurred to complete the in-process research and development projects.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_EstimatedCostOfCompletionOfInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentProjects
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of fair value of stock options assumed in a business combination for post-combination services that will be recognized as stock-based compensation in the Company's statement of operations ratably over the remaining vesting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_FairValueStockOptionsAssumedToBeRecognizedAsCompensationExpenseBusinessCombination
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The amount of purchased research and development assets that are acquired in a business combination have no alternative future use and are recorded as assets in purchase accounting. Upon completion of the project(s) it is transferred to developed technology and amortization begins, over the estimated useful life of asset.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the value of an in-process research and development project recorded as an asset in an acquisition that was completed and will be transferred to developed technology and amortized over its estimated useful life.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Proceeds From Sale Of Long Lived Assets Held For Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ProceedsFromSaleOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Research And Development In Process Project Completion Years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_ResearchAndDevelopmentInProcessProjectCompletionYears
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the sales price, subject to adjustment, of a business unit, which had been classified as assets held-for-sale.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Expected Weighted Average term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedWeightedAverageTerm
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The weighted average fair value of options assumed in a business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_WeightedAverageFairValueOfAssumedOptionsBusinessCombination
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Property, plant and equipment that is held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold in less than one year.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 46

-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_AssetsHeldForSalePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-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_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of direct costs of the business combination including legal, accounting, and other costs incurred to consummate the business acquisition.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-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.



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 24

-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_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityTransactionCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph e(2)(c)

-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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph e(2)(b)

-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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iv)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph e(2)(d)

-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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration