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			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Debt - Narrative (Details) £ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2019 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2014 GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Finance lease liability	$ 3,495,000	$ 3,631,000	$ 3,495,000		$ 3,631,000
Other debt		395,000			395,000
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	499,000	3,320,000	11,106,000	$ (12,577,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, tax	162,000	1,077,000
Other current assets	56,453,000	49,384,000	56,453,000		49,384,000
Designated as Hedging Instrument
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax			(149,000)		(534,000)
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax			(112,000)		(403,000)
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months	118,000		118,000
Senior Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unamortized debt costs	$ 3,150,000	3,284,000	$ 3,150,000		3,284,000
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%		1.40%
Debt issued amount	$ 16,533,000		$ 16,533,000			€ 15,000,000.0
Senior Notes 2025 \| Senior Notes
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Debt issued amount	$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)	5.25%		5.25%			5.25%
Securitization Facility
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum amount of borrowings available	$ 115,000,000		$ 115,000,000
Outstanding borrowings	$ 106,720,000	93,950,000	$ 106,720,000		93,950,000
Interest rate on facility (as a percent)	2.51%		2.51%	3.25%		2.51%
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)				5.54%
Revolving Credit Facility \| LIBOR
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate during period (as a percent)			1.50%
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		$ 900,000,000
Maximum borrowing amount drawn In foreign currency	150,000,000		$ 150,000,000
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	$ 47,287,000	53,497,000	$ 47,287,000		53,497,000
Term Loan \| April 2016 Debt Amendment \| LIBOR
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Interest rate during period (as a percent)			1.50%
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		$ 35,000,000
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent)	2.60%		2.60%	3.06%		2.60%
Foreign Line of Credit \| Credit Facility With European Bank
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum amount of borrowings available	$ 39,258,000		$ 39,258,000			€ 35,000,000.0
Outstanding borrowings	$ 20,680,000	14,024,000	$ 20,680,000		14,024,000	€ 18,400,000	€ 12,800,000
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent)	1.25%		1.25%			1.25%
Letter of Credit
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Other current assets	$ 11,301,000		$ 11,301,000					£ 8,570
United States of America, Dollars \| Domestic Revolving Credit Facility \| April 2016 Debt Amendment
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings	351,689,000	325,638,000	351,689,000		325,638,000
Euro Member Countries, Euro \| Domestic Revolving Credit Facility \| April 2016 Debt Amendment
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Outstanding borrowings	$ 140,206,000	$ 136,470,000	$ 140,206,000		$ 136,470,000	€ 125,000,000.0	€ 125,000,000.0