Matthews International Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS - Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Plan Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets, Level 3 Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Fair value, beginning of year	$ 155,634
Fair value, end of year	158,662	$ 155,634
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets, Level 3 Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Fair value, beginning of year	9,480
Fair value, end of year	10,115	9,480
Other investments
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets, Level 3 Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Fair value, beginning of year	29,381
Fair value, end of year	21,667	29,381
Other investments \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets, Level 3 Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Fair value, beginning of year	9,480
Fair value, end of year	10,115	9,480
Pension
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets, Level 3 Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Fair value, beginning of year	155,634	151,864
Fair value, end of year	158,662	155,634
Pension \| Other investments \| Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets, Level 3 Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Fair value, beginning of year	9,480	12,816
Acquisitions	0	0
Dispositions	(149)	(3,286)
Realized Gains	261	418
Unrealized Gains (Losses)	523	(468)
Fair value, end of year	$ 10,115	$ 9,480