Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2017
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2014
GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Other debt $ 926,000 $ 1,032,000        
Other current assets $ 53,784,000 46,533,000        
Matthews International S.p.A            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.27%   2.27%   1.58%  
Designated as Hedging Instrument            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax $ 6,573,000 3,959,000        
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax 4,010,000 2,415,000        
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months $ 1,178,000          
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 $ 17,971,000   € 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%   5.25%      
Financing fees and expenses $ 4,068,000          
Securitization Facility            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Maximum amount of borrowings available 115,000,000.0          
Outstanding borrowings $ 101,400,000 95,825,000        
Interest rate on facility (as a percent) 2.31%   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) 4.62%   4.62%   5.77%  
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Interest rate during period (as a percent) 1.75%          
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 $ 227,591,000 232,479,000        
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 $ 337,000,000 525,000,000        
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.93%   2.93%   2.65%  
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks | Matthews International S.p.A            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 13,574,000   € 11,300,000.0      
Outstanding borrowings 4,885,000 4,735,000 4,100,000 € 4,000,000    
Long-term Debt 2,500,000 3,079,000 2,100,000 2,600,000    
Letter of Credit            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Other current assets 11,564,000         £ 8,570
Foreign Line of Credit | Credit Facility With European Bank            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Maximum amount of borrowings available 41,931,000   35,000,000.0      
Outstanding borrowings $ 31,416,000 $ 26,126,000 € 26,200,000 € 22,100,000    
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.00%   2.00%   1.75%