Amount by which the if-converted value exceeds the principal amount

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Basis Point Reduction

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt instrument prepaid principal amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Direct Third party Costs Interest Expense

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The holders of the 2007 Notes, 2010 Notes, 2012 Notes and 2013 Notes may convert the notes into shares of the Company's common stock at a conversion price of approximately $38.59 per share, $23.03 per share, $31.175 and $38.59 per share, respectively, subject to adjustment, prior to the close of business on September 15, 2037 for the 2007 and 2010 Notes, March 1, 2042 for the 2012 Notes and September 15, 2043 for the 2013 Notes upon: during any calendar quarter if the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the interest rate in effect as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of Debt Instruments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_NumberofDebtInstruments
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Financial Ratio Covenants

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	holx_NumberofFinancialRatioCovenants
Namespace Prefix:	holx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to allocate debt discount and premium, and the costs to issue debt and obtain financing over the related debt instruments. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

+ 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=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of long-term debt (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer) identified as Convertible Notes Payable, excluding current portion. Convertible Notes Payable is a written promise to pay a note which can be exchanged for a specified amount of another, related security, at the option of the issuer and the holder.

+ 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 210.5-02.22)

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleLongTermNotesPayable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the portion of long-term debt due within one year or the operating cycle if longer identified as Convertible Notes Payable. Convertible Notes Payable is a written promise to pay a note which can be exchanged for a specified amount of another, related security, at the option of the issuer and the holder.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The average effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ 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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=holx_TermLoanAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=holx_TermLoanBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis=holx_TwoThousandTenOriginalNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Borrowings and Credit Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2015 Financial_covenant	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 24, 2014	Feb. 26, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013	Sep. 27, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Notes	$ 844,000,000us-gaap_ConvertibleLongTermNotesPayable		$ 844,000,000us-gaap_ConvertibleLongTermNotesPayable							$ 1,235,600,000us-gaap_ConvertibleLongTermNotesPayable
Debt extinguishment loss	0	4,400,000	6,700,000	7,400,000
Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs			33,200,000	35,800,000
Number of financial ratio covenants	2holx_NumberofFinancialRatioCovenants
Convertible Notes Payable, Current	417,300,000us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableCurrent		417,300,000us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableCurrent							0us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableCurrent
Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of Debt Instruments	2
Basis Point Reduction		0.00%
Weighted average interest rates, Borrowings outstanding under the credit agreement	2.62%		2.70%
Interest expense	14,400,000	19,200,000	31,900,000	39,600,000
Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	2,700,000	3,200,000	5,800,000	6,500,000
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense	16,000,000	16,000,000	32,000,000	32,000,000
Non-cash interest expense amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs	400,000	400,000	800,000	800,000
Senior note interest rate per year			6.25%
Term Loan B \| Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Prepaid principal amount					300,000,000	25,000,000	100,000,000
Debt extinguishment loss		4,400,000						6,700,000	3,000,000
Direct Third Party Costs Interest Expense		1,000,000
Interest rates under Term Loans			3.25%
Term Loan A \| Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rates under Term Loans			1.92%
Two Thousand Ten Original Notes [Member] \| Convertible Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exceeds Percentage Of Conversion Price Of Common Stock			130.00%
Convertible Notes Payable, Current	417,300,000.0		417,300,000.0
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	450,000,000.0		450,000,000.0
Amount by which the if-converted value exceeds the principal amount	$ 200,000,000		$ 200,000,000