Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.19.1
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2019
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2018
EUR (€)
Mar. 31, 2018
Sep. 30, 2014
GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Other debt $ 3,299,000 $ 5,399,000        
Other current assets 74,274,000 61,592,000        
Designated as Hedging Instrument            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax 4,791,000 11,309,000        
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax 3,617,000 8,538,000        
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months $ 1,574,000          
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 $ 16,830,000   € 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%      
Securitization Facility            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 115,000,000          
Outstanding borrowings $ 102,200,000 102,250,000        
Interest rate on facility (as a percent) 3.24%   3.24%   2.63%  
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) 5.50%   5.50%   2.77%  
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Interest rate during period (as a percent) 1.50%          
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          
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 $ 199,666,000 212,086,000        
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Interest rate during period (as a percent) 1.50%          
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 $ 342,500,000 319,500,000        
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 3.25%   3.25%   2.68%  
Letter of Credit            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Other current assets $ 11,176,000         £ 8,570
Foreign Line of Credit | Credit Facility With European Bank            
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]            
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 39,270,000   € 35,000,000.0      
Outstanding borrowings   $ 3,211,000   € 2,800,000    
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.25%   1.25%   1.75%