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

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT PLANS - Weighted Average Asset Allocation and Target Allocation (Details) - Pension - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 151,864	$ 142,225	$ 131,753
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets, Target Allocations [Abstract]
Target allocation of plan assets (as a percent)	100.00%
Equity securities
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 58,849	60,460
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets, Target Allocations [Abstract]
Target allocation of plan assets (as a percent)	50.00%
Fixed income, cash and cash equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 72,495	59,612
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets, Target Allocations [Abstract]
Target allocation of plan assets (as a percent)	30.00%
Other investments
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 20,520	$ 22,153
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets, Target Allocations [Abstract]
Target allocation of plan assets (as a percent)	20.00%