Equity security other than temporary impairment charge.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the aggregate outstanding principal of amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after adjustment, of cost-method investment. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, dividends received in excess of earnings after date of investment that are considered a return of investment and other than temporary impairments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 325

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872867&loc=d3e40691-111596

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 325

-SubTopic 20

-Section 35

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638308&loc=d3e40346-111594

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13476-108611

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than 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

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 4

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 958

-SubTopic 225

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367520&loc=d3e92212-112881

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Impairment

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515133

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long-lived assets held for abandonment, exchange or sale.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=holx_CreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

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Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Mar. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived	$ 27,100,000
Asset impairment charges	1,500,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges		0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	33,300,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Asset impairment charge		3,100,000
Cost Method Investments			4,400,000us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments		5,200,000us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments
Equity Security Other Than Temporary Impairment Charge	3,000,000			3,700,000
Borrowed principal under credit agreement			1,000,000,000holx_PrincipalAmountOfBorrowings
Credit Agreement
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Borrowed principal under credit agreement			1,690,000,000
Senior Notes
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Fair value of debt instrument			1,040,000,000
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of	28,600,000
Cost of Sales [Member]
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	300,000
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	$ 1,200,000