v2.4.0.6

Business Combinations - Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 01, 2012
Gen-Probe Incorporated [Member]
Schedule Of Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation [Line Items]
Cash paid	$ 3,967,866
Deferred payment	1,655
Fair value of stock options exchanged	2,655
Total purchase price	$ 3,972,176

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 cash paid to acquire the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph f(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaid
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