Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2018
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
EUR (€)
Jun. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2014
GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Other debt $ 892,000 $ 1,032,000          
Other current assets $ 63,728,000 46,533,000          
Matthews International S.p.A              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.62%   2.62%     2.55%  
Designated as Hedging Instrument              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax $ 10,863,000 3,959,000          
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax 8,202,000 2,415,000          
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months $ 2,634,000            
Senior Notes | Matthews Europe GmbH & Co. KG              
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 $ 17,530,000   € 15,000,000        
Fixed interest rate (as a percent) 1.40%   1.40%        
Portion of debt subject to fixed interest rate | €     € 5,000,000        
LIBOR | Senior Notes | Matthews Europe GmbH & Co. KG              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent) 1.40%            
Senior Notes 2025 | Senior Notes              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Debt issued amount       $ 300,000,000      
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)       5.25%      
Financing fees and expenses       $ 4,127,000      
Securitization Facility              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 115,000,000            
Outstanding borrowings $ 102,500,000 95,825,000          
Interest rate on facility (as a percent) 2.84%   2.84%        
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 (as a percent) 0.75%            
Other Debt              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 3.03%   3.03%     2.25%  
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Interest rate during period (as a percent) 1.25%            
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Minimum              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent) 0.75%            
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Maximum              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Interest rate on borrowings (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            
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            
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 1 (as a percent) 5.00%   5.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 2 (as a percent) 7.50%   7.50%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 3 (as a percent) 10.00%   10.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 4 (as a percent) 10.00%   10.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 5 (as a percent) 10.00%   10.00%        
Outstanding borrowings $ 218,296,000 232,479,000          
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Interest rate during period (as a percent) 1.25%            
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Minimum              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent) 0.75%            
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Maximum              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Interest rate on borrowings (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            
Outstanding borrowings $ 359,000,000 525,000,000          
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.82%   2.82%     2.89%  
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks | Matthews International S.p.A              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 818,000   € 700,000.0        
Outstanding borrowings 231,000 4,735,000 198,000   € 4,000,000    
Long-term Debt 584,000 3,079,000 500,000   2,600,000    
Letter of Credit              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Other current assets 11,333,000           £ 8,570
Foreign Line of Credit | Credit Facility With European Bank              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Maximum amount of borrowings available 40,903,000   35,000,000.0        
Outstanding borrowings $ 26,529,000 $ 26,126,000 € 22,700,000   € 22,100,000    
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.75%   1.75%     1.75%