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Debt (Details)
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3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jun. 30, 2011
USD ($)
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Mar. 31, 2011
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
|
Jun. 30, 2011
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
Matthews International S.p.A [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
EUR (€)
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Jun. 30, 2010
Saueressig [Member]
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2011
New Domestic Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
New Domestic Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2010
New Domestic Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2011
Replaced Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
EUR (€)
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Jun. 30, 2010
Credit Facility With European Bank [Member]
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 1 [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 2 [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 3 [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 4 [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 5 [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 6 [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swap 7 [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Current Liabilities: Other Current Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-Term Liabilities: Other Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2010
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2010
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Interest Expense [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2011
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
USD ($)
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Jun. 30, 2010
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
USD ($)
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Sep. 30, 2010
Current Liabilities
USD ($)
|
Sep. 30, 2010
Long-Term Liabilities: Other Liabilities [Member]
USD ($)
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| Line of Credit Facility [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of lines of credit | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum amount of borrowings available | $ 16,489,000 | € 11,400,000 | $ 300,000,000 | $ 225,000,000 | $ 36,255,000 | € 25,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio | LIBOR plus a factor ranging from 1.00 to 1.50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity date | December 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual commitment fee range on unused portion | .20 to .30 based on the Company's leverage ratio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum available for issuance of commercial and standby letters of credit | 25,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding borrowings | 2,834,000 | 2,100,000 | 204,000,000 | 187,000,000 | 34,225,000 | 23,600,000 | 16,361,000 | 12,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (in hundredths) | 3.26% | 3.26% | 3.61% | 3.61% | 6.02% | 6.02% | 6.05% | 2.98% | 2.94% | 2.27% | 2.27% | 1.58% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Effective Date | September 2007 | May 2008 | October 2008 | May 2011 | November 2011 | March 2012 | September 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | 25,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fixed Interest Rate (in hundredths) | 4.77% | 3.72% | 3.46% | 1.37% | 2.13% | 2.44% | 3.03% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Spread (in hundredths) | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maturity Date | September 2012 | September 2012 | October 2011 | May 2014 | November 2014 | March 2015 | December 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate cash flow hedges [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps | 4,577,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax | 2,792,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months | 1,331,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liability derivatives | 4,577 | 4,445 | 2,181 | 2,396 | 2,623 | 1,822 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of loss recognized in income (loss) on derivatives | (719,000) | (926,000) | (2,178,000) | (2,819,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in OCL on derivatives | (1,410,000) | (1,145,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCL into income (effective portion) | (1,329,000) | (1,720,000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding borrowings on bank loans | 10,830 | 7,500,000 | 14,680 | 10,800,000 | 12,262 | 8,500,000 | 10,816 | 7,900,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (in hundredths) | 3.26% | 3.26% | 3.61% | 3.61% | 6.02% | 6.02% | 6.05% | 2.98% | 2.94% | 2.27% | 2.27% | 1.58% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of long-term debt, including current maturities | $ 225,052 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||