Matthews International Corporation Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

Debt - Narrative (Details) £ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Debt - Narrative (Details) £ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2014 GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Other debt	$ 918,000	$ 1,032,000
Other current assets	$ 58,167,000	46,533,000
Matthews International S.p.A
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent)	2.23%		2.23%			2.31%
Designated as Hedging Instrument
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax	$ 9,912,000	3,959,000
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax	6,414,000	2,415,000
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months	$ 1,072,000
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	$ 18,490,000		€ 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	$ 99,600,000	95,825,000
Interest rate on facility (as a percent)	2.63%		2.63%
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)	2.82%		2.82%				2.39%
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	$ 222,944,000	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	$ 386,000,000	525,000,000
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent)	2.68%		2.68%			2.70%
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks \| Matthews International S.p.A
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum amount of borrowings available	$ 13,966,000		€ 11,300,000.0
Outstanding borrowings	330,000	4,735,000	268,000		€ 4,000,000
Long-term Debt	1,418,000	3,079,000	1,200,000		2,600,000
Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Other current assets	12,013,000							£ 8,570
Foreign Line of Credit \| Credit Facility With European Bank
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum amount of borrowings available	43,143,000		35,000,000.0
Outstanding borrowings	$ 15,236,000	$ 26,126,000	€ 12,400,000		€ 22,100,000
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent)	1.75%		1.75%			1.75%