Represents the number of shares purchased by the CEO resulting in a matching RSU grant.

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value per share based on Monte Carlo simulation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	holx_
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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Market stock units granted during period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Maximum target number percentage of shares issued based on stock performance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

Minimum target number percentage of shares that would be issued based on stock price performance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

Percentage of award vested upon meeting defined market based criteria

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award number of tranches.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award trading period considered for determination of average price

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- Definition

The number of grants related to restricted stock which have a required condition to vest other than a service, performance or market condition and are required to be accounted for as a liability award.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time that must lapse in order for the restricted stock units to vest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ 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 (i)

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

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- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ 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 (c)(2)(iii)(1)

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

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- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ 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 (c)(2)(iii)(1)

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

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

+ 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 (c)(2)(i)-(ii)

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

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

+ 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 (c)(2)(i)-(ii)

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

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during 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 (c)(1)(iv)(1)

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

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)

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

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

+ 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 (c)(1)(i)

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

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013 Portions	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options granted		2.2	2.2
Weighted-average exercise prices		$ 21.85	$ 19.91
Share-based compensation, stock option outstanding		11.1
Weighted-average exercise price of options outstanding		$ 19.89
Market stock units granted during the period	0.1
Valuation of MSUs using Monte Carlo simulation model	$ 18.65
Number of separate tranches	3
Percentage in separate tranches	33.33%
Trading period considered for determination of average price of stock for stock based award	30 days
Restricted stock units	0.2
Purchase of common stock from open market	0.2
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units	0.4
Restricted stock units (RSUs), weighted average grant date fair values	$ 21.77
Minimum eligible percentage to receive target number of shares of company's common stock	0.00%
Maximum eligible percentage to receive target number of shares of company's common stock	200.00%
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock units		2.3	1.9
Restricted stock units (RSUs), weighted average grant date fair values		$ 21.53	$ 19.86
Unvested RSUs outstanding		4.1
Unvested RSUs weighted-average grant date fair value		$ 20.29
Restricted stock units vesting period	3 years
Unrecognized compensation expense		$ 79.6
Weighted-average period for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation, years		3 years
Stock Option Plans [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense		$ 32.2
Weighted-average period for recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation, years		3 years 4 months 24 days