Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2018
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2014
GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Other debt $ 3,186,000 $ 5,399,000 $ 5,399,000        
Other current assets 73,145,000 62,937,000 62,937,000        
Designated as Hedging Instrument              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax 7,467,000   11,309,000        
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax 5,638,000 8,538,000          
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months $ 2,154,000            
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 $ 17,169,000     € 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%  
Securitization Facility              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 115,000,000            
Outstanding borrowings $ 109,200,000 102,250,000 102,250,000        
Interest rate on facility (as a percent) 3.25%     3.25%   2.31%  
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%     5.54%   4.62%  
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 $ 205,876,000 212,086,000 212,086,000        
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 $ 322,500,000 319,500,000 319,500,000        
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 3.06%     3.06%   2.93%  
Letter of Credit              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Other current assets $ 10,916,000           £ 8,570
Foreign Line of Credit | Credit Facility With European Bank              
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]              
Maximum amount of borrowings available 40,061,000     € 35,000,000.0      
Outstanding borrowings $ 24,466,000 $ 3,211,000 $ 3,211,000 € 21,400,000 € 2,800,000    
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.25%     1.25%   2.00%