Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details)

v3.2.0.727
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
shares
$ / shares
Jun. 30, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
Mar. 31, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
Jun. 30, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
Mar. 31, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
shares
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2013
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2012
USD ($)
$ / shares
Sep. 30, 2012
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2011
USD ($)
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]                          
Maximum maturity of investments considered to be cash equivalents                 3 months        
Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract]                          
Period past due for which a finance charge may be applied                 30 days        
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]                          
Number of pre-need sales of memorials | shares 319,134               319,134        
Number of pre-need sales of vases | shares 224,204               224,204        
Research and Development Expenses [Abstract]                          
Research and development costs                 $ 7,814 $ 11,449 $ 9,274    
Reclassifications and Revision [Abstract]                          
Cumulative amount of loss determined                 14,771        
Pre-tax earnings amount $ 1,720       $ 1,257       1,720 1,257   $ 929  
Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract]                          
Cash and cash equivalents 63,003     $ 48,078 48,078     $ 48,635 63,003 48,078 52,967 48,635 $ 52,967
Deferred income taxes 18,197       14,069       18,197 14,069      
Total current assets 566,228       400,317       566,228 400,317      
Total assets 2,024,048       1,209,262       2,024,048 1,209,262   1,122,171  
Retained earnings 798,353       769,124       798,353 769,124      
Total shareholders' equity-Matthews 771,145       542,827       771,145 542,827      
Total shareholders' equity 775,206       546,292       775,206 546,292   474,563 462,789
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 2,024,048       1,209,262       2,024,048 1,209,262      
Consolidated Income Statement [Abstract]                          
Other income (deductions), net                 (4,881) (3,795) (2,008)    
Income before income taxes                 66,076 80,179 82,992    
Income taxes                 (22,805) (26,174) (28,355)    
Net income                 43,271 54,005 54,637    
Net income attributable to Matthews shareholders $ 4,805 $ 19,041 $ 10,992 $ 7,787 $ 14,228 $ 17,763 $ 13,989 $ 8,141 42,625 54,121 55,276    
Comprehensive Income                 $ 3,509 $ 92,230 $ 48,183    
Earnings per share attributable to Matthews shareholders [Abstract]                          
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.15 $ 0.70 $ 0.40 $ 0.29 $ 0.52 $ 0.64 $ 0.51 $ 0.29 $ 1.51 $ 1.96 $ 1.96    
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.15 $ 0.69 $ 0.40 $ 0.29 $ 0.52 $ 0.64 $ 0.50 $ 0.29 $ 1.49 $ 1.95 $ 1.95    
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]                          
Net income                 $ 43,271 $ 54,005 $ 54,637    
Increase in deferred taxes                 5,222 3,322 5,688    
Net cash provided by operating activities                 90,679 108,069 82,397    
Net change in cash and cash equivalents                 14,925 (557) (4,332)    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year       $ 48,078       $ 48,635 48,078 48,635 52,967    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 63,003       $ 48,078       $ 63,003 48,078 48,635    
Increase in other current assets                   11,739      
Increase in other current liabilities                   2,805      
Minimum [Member]                          
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]                          
Useful lives of intangibles, minimum (in years)                 2 years        
Maximum [Member]                          
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]                          
Useful lives of intangibles, minimum (in years)                 20 years        
Previously Reported [Member]                          
Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract]                          
Cash and cash equivalents 75,604     58,959 58,959     58,259 $ 75,604 58,959 58,259 58,259 61,662
Deferred income taxes 13,283       9,826       13,283 9,826      
Total current assets 573,915       406,955       573,915 406,955      
Total assets 2,031,735       1,215,900       2,031,735 1,215,900      
Retained earnings 806,040       775,762       806,040 775,762      
Total shareholders' equity-Matthews 778,832       549,465       778,832 549,465      
Total shareholders' equity 782,893       552,930       782,893 552,930      
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 2,031,735       1,215,900       2,031,735 1,215,900      
Consolidated Income Statement [Abstract]                          
Other income (deductions), net [1]                 (3,161) (2,538) (1,079)    
Income before income taxes                 67,796 81,436 83,921    
Income taxes                 (23,476) (26,664) (28,717)    
Net income                 44,320 54,772 55,204    
Net income attributable to Matthews shareholders                 43,674 54,888 55,843    
Comprehensive Income                 $ 4,558 $ 92,997 $ 48,750    
Earnings per share attributable to Matthews shareholders [Abstract]                          
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares                 $ 1.54 $ 1.99 $ 1.98    
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares                 $ 1.53 $ 1.98 $ 1.98    
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]                          
Net income                 $ 44,320 $ 54,772 $ 55,204    
Increase in deferred taxes                 5,893 3,812 6,050    
Net cash provided by operating activities                 92,399 109,326 83,326    
Net change in cash and cash equivalents                 16,645 700 (3,403)    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year       58,959       58,259 58,959 58,259 61,662    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 75,604       58,959       75,604 58,959 58,259    
Adjustment [Member]                          
Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract]                          
Cash and cash equivalents (12,601)     (10,881) (10,881)     (9,624) (12,601) (10,881) (9,624) $ (9,624) (8,695)
Deferred income taxes 4,914       4,243       4,914 4,243      
Total current assets (7,687)       (6,638)       (7,687) (6,638)      
Total assets (7,687)       (6,638)       (7,687) (6,638)      
Retained earnings (7,687)       (6,638)       (7,687) (6,638)     $ (5,304)
Total shareholders' equity-Matthews (7,687)       (6,638)       (7,687) (6,638)      
Total shareholders' equity (7,687)       (6,638)       (7,687) (6,638)      
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (7,687)       (6,638)       (7,687) (6,638)      
Consolidated Income Statement [Abstract]                          
Other income (deductions), net                 (1,720) (1,257) (929)    
Income before income taxes                 (1,720) (1,257) (929)    
Income taxes                 671 490 362    
Net income                 (1,049) (767) (567)    
Net income attributable to Matthews shareholders $ 359 $ 222 $ 341 127 222 $ 228 $ 203 $ 114 (1,049) (767) (567)    
Comprehensive Income                 $ (1,049) $ (767) $ (567)    
Earnings per share attributable to Matthews shareholders [Abstract]                          
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares                 $ (0.03) $ (0.03) $ (0.02)    
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.01     $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ (0.04) $ (0.03) $ (0.03)    
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]                          
Net income                 $ (1,049) $ (767) $ (567)    
Increase in deferred taxes                 (671) (490) (362)    
Net cash provided by operating activities                 (1,720) (1,257) (929)    
Net change in cash and cash equivalents                 (1,720) (1,257) (929)    
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year       $ (10,881)       $ (9,624) (10,881) (9,624) (8,695)    
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ (12,601)       $ (10,881)       $ (12,601) $ (10,881) $ (9,624)    
Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]                          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Useful lives of intangibles                 10 years        
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]                          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Useful lives of intangibles                 45 years        
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]                          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Useful lives of intangibles                 3 years        
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]                          
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]                          
Useful lives of intangibles                 12 years        
[1] Certain other reclassification adjustments are also reflected in the previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation. These reclassification adjustments are not material to the prior years presentation.