Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

No definition available.

Name:	dlhc_FixedChargeCoverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Ratio of Debt to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciations, and Amortization

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_RatioofDebttoEarningsBeforeInterestTaxesDepreciationsandAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Ratio of Debt to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciations, and Amortization, Period Three

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_RatioofDebttoEarningsBeforeInterestTaxesDepreciationsandAmortizationPeriodThree
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Ratio of Debt to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciations, and Amortization, Period Two

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlhc_RatioofDebttoEarningsBeforeInterestTaxesDepreciationsandAmortizationPeriodTwo
Namespace Prefix:	dlhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ 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 FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
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 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: 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=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payment applied to principal.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_MediumTermNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_StandbyLettersOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_SubordinatedDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Cash and Credit Facilities - Schedule of Long Term Line of Credit (Details)		12 Months Ended
	May 03, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio	1.35
Ratio of Debt to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciations, and Amortization	2.99
Ratio of Debt to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciations, and Amortization, Period Two	3.5
Ratio of Debt to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciations, and Amortization, Period Three	2.5
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		$ 5,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage		3.50%
Bank term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum availability		$ 25,000,000
Bank term loan \| Term Loan with Fifth Third Bank [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum availability	$ 25,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Periodic Payment, Principal	312,500
Bank revolving line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum availability	10,000,000.0	10,000,000
Long-term Line of Credit	5,000,000
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount		4,100,000
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		900,000
Subordinated Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt		2,500,000
Notes Payable to Banks
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank term loan		23,438,000
Notes Payable to Banks \| Bank term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank term loan		23,438,000	$ 0
Notes Payable to Banks \| Bank revolving line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank term loan		0
Subordinated Debt \| Wynnefiled Capital, Bank Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount	$ 2,500,000	$ 0
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Bank term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.00%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Bank revolving line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.00%