Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
GBP (£)
Dec. 31, 2016
EUR (€)
Nov. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2016
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2016
EUR (€)
Dec. 31, 2015
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Other current assets $ 54,117,000 $ 54,117,000 $ 61,086,000            
Matthews Europe GmbH & Co. KG | Senior Notes                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings 1.40% 1.40%   1.40% 1.40%        
Debt issued amount           $ 15,793,000 € 15,000,000    
Portion of debt subject to fixed interest rate | €             € 5,000,000    
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)           1.40% 1.40%    
Matthews International S.p.A                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings 1.58% 1.58%   1.58% 1.58%       3.33%
Designated as Hedging Instrument                  
Interest rate cash flow hedges [Abstract]                  
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax   $ 3,334,000 5,834,000            
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax   2,034,000 3,559,000            
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months $ 385,000 $ 385,000              
LIBOR | Matthews Europe GmbH & Co. KG | Senior Notes                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio   1.40%              
Domestic Revolving Credit Facility                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Outstanding borrowings     608,000,000            
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings 2.65% 2.65%   2.65% 2.65%       2.31%
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 $ 35,000,000              
Outstanding borrowings 634,000,000 $ 634,000,000              
Revolving Credit Facility                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Maturity date   Apr. 26, 2021              
Revolving Credit Facility | Minimum                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion   0.15%              
Revolving Credit Facility | Maximum                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion   0.25%              
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Minimum                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio   0.75%              
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Maximum                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio   2.00%              
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 900,000,000 $ 900,000,000              
Term Loan                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 1 (as a percent) 5.00% 5.00%   5.00% 5.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 2 (as a percent) 7.50% 7.50%   7.50% 7.50%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 3 (as a percent) 10.00% 10.00%   10.00% 10.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 4 (as a percent) 10.00% 10.00%   10.00% 10.00%        
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 5 (as a percent) 10.00% 10.00%   10.00% 10.00%        
Term Loan | LIBOR                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Interest rate during period 1.75%                
Term Loan | LIBOR | Minimum                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio   0.75%              
Term Loan | LIBOR | Maximum                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Interest rate on borrowings, based on leverage ratio   2.00%              
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 250,000,000 $ 250,000,000              
Outstanding borrowings 243,347,000 243,347,000 246,449,000            
Credit Facility With European Bank                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Maximum amount of borrowings available 36,804,000 36,804,000     € 35,000,000        
Outstanding borrowings $ 30,579,000 $ 30,579,000     € 29,100,000     € 0  
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings 1.75% 1.75%   1.75% 1.75%       1.50%
Credit Facility With European Bank | Saueressig                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Outstanding borrowings $ 252,000 $ 252,000 286,000   € 240,100     255,200  
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings 4.03% 4.03%   4.03% 4.03%       4.00%
Credit Facility With European Bank | Wetzel GmbH                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Outstanding borrowings $ 951,000 $ 951,000 931,000   € 904,400     830,220  
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings 6.38% 6.38%   6.38% 6.38%       6.12%
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Outstanding borrowings $ 5,445,000 $ 5,445,000 5,801,000   € 5,200,000     5,200,000  
Lines of Credit with Italian Banks | Matthews International S.p.A                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Maximum amount of borrowings available 11,914,000 11,914,000     11,300,000        
Outstanding borrowings 2,991,000 2,991,000 $ 3,538,000   € 2,800,000     € 3,200,000  
Letter of Credit                  
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                  
Other current assets $ 10,572,000 $ 10,572,000   £ 8,570