Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.7.0.1
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2017
EUR (€)
Nov. 30, 2016
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2016
EUR (€)
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2014
GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Other debt $ 3,829,000 $ 3,829,000         $ 4,579,000  
Other current assets $ 70,705,000 $ 70,705,000 $ 61,086,000          
Matthews Europe GmbH & Co. KG | Senior Notes                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.40% 1.40%   1.40%        
Debt issued amount $ 17,134,000 $ 17,134,000     € 15,000,000      
Portion of debt subject to fixed interest rate | €         € 5,000,000      
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)         1.40%      
Matthews International S.p.A                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.55% 2.55%   2.55%     3.44%  
Designated as Hedging Instrument                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax   $ 3,552,000 (5,834,000)          
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax   2,167,000 (3,559,000)          
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months $ 564,000 $ 564,000            
LIBOR | Matthews Europe GmbH & Co. KG | Senior Notes                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio (as a percent)   1.40%            
Securitization Facility                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available 115,000,000.0 $ 115,000,000.0            
Outstanding borrowings $ 102,900,000 $ 102,900,000            
Facility term 2 years              
Interest rate on facility (as a percent) 1.97% 1.97%   1.97%        
Securitization Facility | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Commitment fee (as a percent) 0.25%              
Securitization Facility | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Commitment fee (as a percent) 0.35%              
Securitization Facility | LIBOR                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio (as a percent) 0.75%              
Other Debt                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.25% 2.25%   2.25%     5.71%  
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate during period (as a percent)   1.75%            
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio (as a percent)   0.75%            
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio (as a percent)   2.00%            
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 900,000,000 $ 900,000,000            
Maturity date   Apr. 26, 2021            
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion (as a percent)   0.15%            
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion (as a percent)   0.25%            
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 250,000,000 $ 250,000,000            
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 1 (as a percent) 5.00% 5.00%   5.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 2 (as a percent) 7.50% 7.50%   7.50%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 3 (as a percent) 10.00% 10.00%   10.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 4 (as a percent) 10.00% 10.00%   10.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 5 (as a percent) 10.00% 10.00%   10.00%        
Outstanding borrowings $ 237,144,000 $ 237,144,000 246,449,000          
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate during period (as a percent)   1.75%            
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio (as a percent)   0.75%            
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio (as a percent)   2.00%            
Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum available for issuance of trade and standby letters of credit 35,000,000 $ 35,000,000            
Outstanding borrowings $ 545,000,000 $ 545,000,000 608,000,000          
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.89% 2.89%   2.89%     2.55%  
Credit Facility With European Bank                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 39,979,000 $ 39,979,000   € 35,000,000.0        
Outstanding borrowings $ 21,292,000 $ 21,292,000   € 18,600,000   € 0    
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.75% 1.75%   1.75%     1.75%  
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks | Matthews International S.p.A                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 12,942,000 $ 12,942,000   € 11,300,000.0        
Outstanding borrowings 5,929,000 5,929,000 5,801,000 5,200,000   5,200,000    
Long-term Debt 3,193,000 3,193,000 $ 3,538,000 € 2,800,000   € 3,200,000    
Letter of Credit                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Other current assets $ 11,142,000 $ 11,142,000           £ 8,570