| **Stock-based Compensation, Equity Grants, and Warrants (Tables)**            | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
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| **Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Stock-based Compensation Expense                                              | Stock-based compensation expense, shown in the table below, is recorded in general and administrative expenses included in our statement of operations:    (in thousands)   Year Ended Ref September 30,   2015 2014DLH employees $302 $363Non-employee directors(a) 177 109Total compensation expense  $479 $472Ref (a): Equity grants of restricted stock to non-employee directors, in accordance with DLH compensation policy for non-employee directors. The shares vested immediately and stock expense was recognized accordingly.    Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense   (in thousands)   Period Ended   September 30, Ref 2015 2014Unrecognized expense for DLH employees(a) $44 $346Unrecognized expense for non-employee directors(b) 96 125Total unrecognized expense  $140 $471Ref (a): Compensation expense for the portion of equity awards for which the requisite service has not been rendered is recognized as the requisite service is rendered. The compensation expense for that portion of awards has been based on the grant-date fair value of those awards as calculated for recognition purposes under applicable guidance. For options that vest based on the Company’s common stock achieving and maintaining defined market prices, the Company values the awards with a binomial model that utilizes various probability factors and other criterion in establishing fair value of the grant. The related compensation expense is recognized over the derived service period determined in the valuation. This expense is expected to be recognized over the next 1.8 years, with a weighted average life of 1.2 years.Ref (b):  Unrecognized stock expense related to prior years equity grants of restricted stock to non-employee directors, based on performance criteria, in accordance with DLH compensation policy for non-employee directors.  The shares will vest and expense will be recorded upon future satisfaction of specified performance. |
| Stock Option Activity                                                         | This amount will change based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock.       (in years)         Weighted       Weighted Average (in thousands)   (in thousands) Average Remaining Aggregate   Number of Exercise Contractual Intrinsic Ref Shares Price Term ValueOptions outstanding, September 30, 2013  1,613 $1.15 7.9 $388Granted(a) 830 $1.52    Canceled  (63) $1.40    Options outstanding, September 30, 2014  2,380 $1.40 7.8 $1,589Canceled  (56) $1.40    Options outstanding, September 30, 2015  2,324 $1.40 6.8 $3,649Ref (a): Option grants to DLH employees were valued using a binomial model, under the following criteria:•average risk free interest rates of 2.55%  for 2014;•expected volatility of 65.8%  for 2014;•contractual lives and expected lives were 10 years for 2014; and •no dividend yield was contemplated for either period.The resulting average fair values were $0.76  for 2014.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Stock Option Shares Outstanding, Vested and Expected to Vest                  | Stock options shares outstanding, vested and unvested for the period ended:   (in thousands)   Number of Shares   September 30, Ref 2015 2014Vested and exercisable(a) 1,093 896Unvested(b) 1,231 1,484Options outstanding  2,324 2,380Ref (a): Weighted average exercise price of vested and exercisable shares was $1.40 and $1.41 at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Aggregate intrinsic value was $1.6 million and $0.6 million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Weighted average contractual term was 7.3 years  and  8.0 years at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.Ref (b): Certain awards vest upon satisfaction of certain performance criteria.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the allocation of equity-based compensation costs to a given line item on the balance sheet and income statement for the period. This may include the reporting line for the costs and the amount capitalized and expensed.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the number and weighted-average exercise prices (or conversion ratios) for share options (or share units) that were outstanding at the beginning and end of the year, vested and expected to vest, exercisable or convertible at the end of the year, and the number of share options or share units that were granted, exercised or converted, forfeited, and expired during the year.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the number of fully vested share options (or share units) and share options expected to vest at the date of the latest statement of financial position, weighted-average exercise price (or conversion ratio), aggregate intrinsic value (except for nonpublic entities), and weighted-average remaining contractual term for both options (or share units) currently outstanding and options (or share units) exercisable (or convertible).
+ References
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