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Retirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) shares in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Value of Company Stock Contributed to Defined Contribution Benefit Plans | $ 14,014,000 | $ 13,999,000 | $ 12,574,000
Treasury Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Benefit Plans | shares | 199 | 317 | 259
Woodward Retirement Savings Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Shares of Woodward stock held in Woodward Retirement Savings Plan | shares | 4,183 | 4,488 |
Accrued Employee Benefits, Current | $ 11,355,000 | $ 11,314,000 |
Total stockholders equity |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Value of Company Stock Contributed to Defined Contribution Benefit Plans | 14,014,000 | 13,999,000 | $ 12,574,000
Treasury Stock at Cost [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Value of Company Stock Contributed to Defined Contribution Benefit Plans | $ 7,513,000 | $ 8,680,000 | $ 8,084,000
Treasury Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Benefit Plans | shares | 199 | 317 | 259
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Settlement loss | $ 0 | $ 47,000 | $ 0
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year | 3,871,000 |  |
Accumulated benefit obligation | $ 32,252,000 | 35,630,000 |
Option to elect company provided medical insurance coverage up to this age and a Medicare supplemental plan after this age | 65 |  |
Age employees were eligible to participate in plan | 55 |  |
Years of service required to be eligible to participate in plan | 10 years |  |
Approximate number of retired employees and their covered dependents and beneficiaries currently providing postretirement benefits | 770 |  |
Approximate number of active employees and their covered dependants and beneficiaries who may receive postretirement benefits in the future | 13 |  |
UNITED STATES | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit, Lump Sum Buyout Benefits Paid, Current Year | $ 670,000 |  |
Settlement loss | 0 | 47,000 | 0
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year | $ 0 |  |
Discount rate support/source data | Woodward uses a bond portfolio matching analysis based on recently traded, non-callable bonds rated AA or better that have at least $50 million outstanding to determine the benefit obligations at year end. |  |
Accumulated benefit obligation | $ 161,130,000 | 160,892,000 |
UNITED STATES | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Defined Benefit, Lump Sum Buyout Benefits Paid, Expected | $ 0 |  |
UNITED STATES | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Discount rate support/source data | Woodward used a bond portfolio matching analysis based on recently traded, non-callable bonds rated AA or better that have at least $50 million outstanding to determine the benefit obligations at year end. |  |
Duarte Plan, Defined Benefit [Member] | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Settlement loss |  | 47,000 |
Current defined benefit pension plan liability | $ 0 |  |
Foreign Plan [Member] | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Settlement loss | $ 0 | 0 | $ 0
Discount rate support/source data | Woodward uses a high-quality corporate bond yield curve matched with separate cash flows to develop a single rate to determine the single rate equivalent to settle the entire benefit obligations in each jurisdiction. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the discount rate used to determine periodic service cost and interest cost components of the overall benefit costs was based on spot rates derived from the same high-quality corporate bond yield curve used to determine the September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, benefit obligation matched with separate cash flows for each future year. Prior to this change in method, the discount rate used to determine the periodic benefit costs for the year ending September 30, 2015 was based on a single rate equivalent. |  |
Foreign Plan [Member] | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Discount rate support/source data | Woodward uses a high-quality corporate bond yield curve matched with separate cash flows to develop a single rate to determine the single rate equivalent to settle the entire benefit obligations in each jurisdiction. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, the discount rate used to determine periodic service cost and interest cost components of the overall benefit costs was based on spot rates derived from the same high-quality corporate bond yield curve used to determine the September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, benefit obligation matched with separate cash flows for each future year. |  |
UNITED KINGDOM | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year | $ 397,000 |  |
Accumulated benefit obligation | $ 53,628,000 | 57,877,000 |
UNITED KINGDOM | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Approximate number of retired employees and their covered dependents and beneficiaries currently providing postretirement benefits | 6 |  |
JAPAN | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated future employer contributions in the next fiscal year | $ 217,000 |  |
Accumulated benefit obligation | $ 10,007,000 | $ 10,924,000 |

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- Definition During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, Woodward opened a lump-sum buy-out window for certain former U.S. employees and/or their dependents eligible to receive postretirement defined benefit pension payments for past employment services to the Company. Eligible pension plan participants may elect to receive a one-time lump-sum payment or an immediate annuity in lieu of future pension benefit payments. Amount represents the pension benefit payments under the lump-sum buy-out options during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition During the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, Woodward opened a lump-sum buy-out window for certain former U.S. employees and/or their dependents eligible to receive postretirement defined benefit pension payments for past employment services to the Company. Eligible pension plan participants may elect to receive a one-time lump-sum payment or an immediate annuity in lieu of future pension benefit payments. Amount represents the estimated pension benefit payments under the lump-sum buy-out options expected to be paid in 2017. + References No definition available. + Details
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