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

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Cover
- Document And Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details)

v2.3.0.15

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Maximum maturity of investments considered to be cash equivalents (in months)	3M
Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract]
Period past due for which a finance charge may be applied (in days)	30D
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Useful lives of intangibles, minimum (in years)	2
Useful lives of intangibles, maximum (in years)	20
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Number of pre-need sales of memorials	333,174
Number of pre-need sales of vases	236,460
Research and Development Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development costs	$ 1,705	$ 1,910	$ 2,200
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of assets, minimum (in years)	10
Estimated useful lives of assets, maximum (in years)	45
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of assets, minimum (in years)	3
Estimated useful lives of assets, maximum (in years)	12

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The maximum maturity (in months) of investments that are considered to be cash equivalents.

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The maximum useful life of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

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The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

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